Chapter 10: The Offer
„I can't believe it," Trunks muttered for what appeared to be the hundredth time since he and the others had gotten back after having been called by Pan. He looked around the room and only saw the faces of the other Saiyajins that very much resembled his own. Confusion, worry, desperation, grief…
It had been a shock to all of them, even a bit for the Scoobies, but most of all to his mother and sister. The two Briefs-women were huddled together on the couch. Bra still had silent tears running down her cheeks, while his mother only had a blank look on her face, with her hand covering the now patched-up spot on her neck, where she had been bitten. Most of the others were standing in the room, leaning at a wall, or sitting on a chair, while he himself was nervously pacing back and forth. He ran a hand through his hair, while again posing the question that seemed to be in everyone's mind. "Why dad? It doesn't make sense…"
The question hung above them like a heavy cloud, as the Saiyajins looked at each other, at a complete loss of words. The Scoobies shuffled nervously with their feet, not wanting to disturb the grieving friends. The silence that followed the question was deafening. Pan's tears had dried long ago, after having only allowed herself to shed a few, when Mirai had hugged her as if his life depended on it. By now her mind was working hard at finding a solution to this, playing through possible scenarios, as she was already thinking again like a Scooby.
"It does…" Pan stated eventually, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated herself for doing so, for understanding what the others didn't, or didn't want to. She hated herself for stating what they should have known all along. "They chose the strongest fighter among us and we also know that Drusilla has been talking about her dark prince the whole time. We should have known… It was so simple, so obvious. But what I don't understand is, how she managed to turn him. When Dawn fired the crossbow at him, the arrow just bounced off his chest. So how…"
She didn't need to talk further. They all were asking themselves the same question. How could the strongest Saiyajin alive become a victim of a vampire, if not even bullets could harm him when he wasn't powered up at all? It didn't make sense.
Only one person seemed to know the answer to this and ready to give it.
"Remember what I told you the other night, pet?" Spike's voice interrupted the silence. "Dru might not be what most people consider sane, but there's one thing she's better at than most other vampires. I think Buffy knows what I'm talking about, since our good ol' friend Drac used the same on her."
"You think she put a thrall on him?" Pan wanted to know, knowing what Spike was talking about through tales of the Scoobies.
"Do you know a better way to make a strong warrior completely defenseless?" Spike looked at her, abhorring the fact that he had to be the one who had to explain this. Even though he hadn't gotten to know him that well, he knew that he would've liked Vegeta. The two of them were alike, and he also knew that Pan had a soft spot for him.
"That does make sense," the Saiyajin admitted, putting on a brave face. Of all the people in this dimension, she was one of the two who could completely understand what the Scoobies were talking about. During those six months that she had spent with them, believing to be a Slayer, she had learned a lot. "Pulling some strings with her mojo, maybe making him see things…" She trailed off, her gaze wandering to Bulma.
Suddenly, the silence that had once again fallen, was disturbed, when Buffy grabbed her coat and went to the door without saying a word. She would have left the room, if Spike hadn't put a hand on her arm to stop her. "What are you doing?"
"There are still a couple of hours until the sun rises and there are vampires out there, of which one is a Saiyajin, killing, or worse, turning innocent people," she told him curtly. "I doubt that he will come back here tonight, knowing that we will be alert, so I have to go to him."
"Buffy, luv, you can't go out there. You have no idea what you're up against." Spike tried to remain cool, but with everything that had happened in the last few days it was hard, especially for him, since he had never been known for his calmness.
"I'm the Slayer, Spike, and he's a vampire. Vampire. Slayer. Slayer kills vampire. It's as easy as that."
"This is suicide, Slayer!" The former vampire's patience was now really running thin and he now grabbed her arm tighter, whirling her around as she once again turned to leave. "This Saiyajin will tear you in half without even breaking into sweat."
"B," Faith decided to step in. "Spike's right. You won't stand a chance. None of us would, not even the other Saiyajins. He's a number too big for us. We have to find another way."
With a heavy sigh, Buffy hung her head. She hated to admit this, but Faith and Spike were right. Still, she was the Slayer. What good was her calling, if she couldn't even defeat one lousy vampire? Shaking her head to get rid of this thought, she looked again into Spike's worried blue eyes, and winced. They weren't angry like she expected them to be, no, she could see the fear in them. Spike was scared, for her. "It's my duty, Spike," she said softly. "It's my duty as Slayer and to see something like this happen only means that I've failed. It's my fault that there's yet one more dangerous vampire on the loose and—"
"You're wrong," a quiet voice from a darker corner of the room whispered. Dawn raised her head and got up, walking up to them. "It's never your fault, Buffy. If you want to blame someone, it's me. If I hadn't gone looking for Dru, if I hadn't been too confident of my abilities, none of this would have happened. I'm sorry." The teenager not only said this directed at her sister, but also at everyone else in the room. "But," she continued, her voice gaining in strength, "I once learned that it doesn't help to blame yourself or anyone else. We have to do something, something that doesn't involve dying."
"Dawn is right," Pan agreed. "The first rule of Slaying is – Don't die. At least that's what I've been taught. None of us is going to do something that will kill us and fighting… him now surely will. There has to be another way!" Pan looked at the others expectantly. It was hard, but she had to accept it. Vegeta was one of the demons that she and the rest of the Scoobies were killing for a living.
"Willow," Goten suddenly said, surprising the redheaded witch. "Pan told us that you once managed to resoul a vampire… Couldn't you just… I mean, wouldn't it be possible to simply resoul Vegeta?"
Shaking her head,Willowlooked at him with apologizing eyes. "I'm sorry. I already thought about this as well, but to do this I need an Orb of Thesulah, of which I'm note sure if it even exists in this dimension. It might take weeks to find one."
"Uhm," Faith said hesitantly. "Speaking of orbs… What about those neat spheres of yours that made Spike and Angel human? I remember a huge dragon. Can't he help us?"
Buffy appeared to be a bit confused, seeing as she hadn't been there when Shenlong had been summoned, having only heard about it, as was Connor. However, the teenager wasn't really confused about the fact that a dragon had turned his father and Spike human, because Angel had explained everything to him and after having grown up in a hell dimension like Quortoth, he was quite used to dragons.
No, he was more confused about something else that had caught his eye. Before anyone could even say something about Faith's idea, he pointed to the window and said, "Hey guys… Is it normal that you have a black man on a magic carpet floating in front of your window?"
Gohan's ears immediately perked up at this and he hurried over to the large window, opening it. "Mr. Popo!" he exclaimed surprised. "What are you doing here?"
The short black man floated into the living room and once the carpet had set down on the floor, got up from his sitting position and turned towards his friends. "I is having no time. I must be back before vampires notice me. Dende is sending me. We is knowing of current predicament and Dende offers help to defeat vampires. He is wanting to ask the Slayer to come to Lookout and train in Room of Spirit and Time for confrontation."
"The Room of Spirit and Time?" Faith asked confused, thinking hard. She knew that she had heard of this room, something Mirai had told her. "Isn't this… this strange room, where time passes differently?"
"One year inside equals to one day outside," Gohan quickly explained. "But that's not all. It's practically another dimension. First of all, only two people can enter the room at the same time and also just for two days. The gravity in this room is higher than outside, the air is thinner and there are also extreme fluctuations in the temperature. It's the perfect training environment, but not many people are able to stay inside longer than a couple of months. We only managed to stay in there longer because we are Saiyajins."
"So what?" Faith asked, shrugging. "Me an' B are Slayers. We can take on everything."
"I is sorry to tell you, Miss Faith, but you won't be coming," Mr. Popo told her regretfully. "Only other Slayer is allowed. No one else."
Buffy raised her eyebrow at the small man. If she weren't the Slayer living on the Hellmouth and therewith used to strange things, she probably would be completely wigged by this conversation. Spheres that could fulfill almost any wish you had, strange rooms in other dimension and uber strong vampire/Saiyajin crossings that could kill you with their little finger weren't your everyday phenomena, even on the Hellmouth. "Why just me? Why can't Faith come with me, or, when she isn't allowed, Spike or another of those Saiyajins? I'm not sure that training alone will help."
"Oh, but you won't be alone." Everyone stared at Popo as if he had grown a second head, waiting for him to continue instead of just grinning at them with this mischievous smile on his face. "You'll be having personal trainer. He is meeting you inside."
"Alright." Crossing her arms over her chest, she stepped up to him. Buffy, the girl was gone, instead, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was in charge. "When will I start?"
Popo smiled at her, a genuinely encouraging smile. "Dende is expecting you in the morning, after dawn. It being too dangerous now outside. You go get a good night's sleep, before starting training." The black man stepped again onto his carpet and sat down Indian style, as the carpet began to float again. "Before I forget. Miss Faith's idea is good. Honestly I am doubting of you being able to defeat Vegeta, once you're out of Room of Spirit and Time, but maybe you'll be able to buy enough time for others gathering Dragonballs."
"Wait," Gohan said confused, "but it hasn't been a year since we've used them… The Dragonballs are still only stone spheres."
"No, they not stones," Popo told him. "You used them in other dimension. Magic of Dragonballs got confused in portal. Time is moving differently in there. You can use them again, but they be spread all over world again. I'll see you in the morning."
Once Mr. Popo was gone, Buffy turned to the others and said with authority, "Okay… You heard him. I'm going into this room and train. I have to take this chance, even if it doesn't help us. But while I'm in there, it doesn't have to mean that you can't do anything, so this is the plan…"
Spike watched Buffy, his Slayer, with pride, as she told the others about the plan that she had devised within a couple of minutes. It truly was a brilliant plan, if a bit risky. A lot of pressure was resting on the witches' shoulders, but he wasn't worried about them, they would do just fine. Buffy counted on them to protect the Lookout, where all of them were planning to go come dawn. It was a too great risk to stay at Capsule Corporation, not only becauseWillowwasn't sure, if she could perform the de-invite spell without proper ingredients, but also because, invited or not, Vegeta could easily destroy the building from the outside.
But still, Spike didn't like it at all that his Buffy was about to go into this bloody room all alone. He didn't care that this Dende said that her trainer would meet her there. Buffy wouldn't see her family for what appeared to be two years, and this just after everything that had happened. He was scared for her, scared that she might come out of this room as a changed person, scared that this room would do something to her to drive her over the edge. He had already feared that she was going to get killed, when she had declared to go out to find the vampires not even half an hour ago. Spike had seen it in her eyes, the desperate wish to go, the longing for what she had been denied twice already – heaven. She wouldn't have returned – they would have lost her.
With his fists deeply buried in the pockets of his leather duster, he fingered the small square box. Maybe, maybe he should ask her now. Maybe this would give her the will to go on. But with one look into her blazing eyes, Spike knew that the time wasn't right. This before them was the Slayer, not the girl. The determination didn't leave enough space for emotions.
However, the former vampire knew that her special training probably wouldn't be enough. She was still just a Slayer, while her opponent had the advantage of his alien heritage. He was strong, much stronger than Glory and they didn't even have a troll hammer this time around. Their only hope seemed to be those Dragonballs they keep talking about. They had two days to gather all of them, two days before Buffy would come out of the room and take the fight to the vampires. Two days, from dawn until dusk, because at night it would be too dangerous to leave the Lookout. Then it would be Willow's and Tara's turn to give everything they had to erect a shield around the Lookout that was powerful enough to hold a Saiyajin turned vampire at bay.
A silent sigh escaped his lips, as possible 'what ifs' fought their way into his mind. What if it wasn't enough? What if they didn't manage to collect the Dragonballs in time? What if Vegeta broke through the barrier on the Lookout and killed them all?
He felt so helpless. He wasn't allowed to go with Buffy into this room. He didn't know magic. He couldn't fly and because of that couldn't help the Saiyajins to collect the Dragonballs. Despite the fact that he had kept his vampire strength, he had no special powers. Bugger! There just had to be something he could do!
Spike's eyes wandered around the room. Buffy was still talking with the others about the details of the plan; only one person was still sitting at the sidelines with an empty and at the same time thoughtful look on her face. The older woman, Bulma, who just two days ago, when they had come here, had welcomed them all so warmly and immediately offered them to call her by her first name, now appeared to be dead. It had hit her the hardest of them all, even harder than her daughter, who was now helping putting the plan into motion. It was understandable. Pan had told him about the Saiyajin bond and what happened, when one of the partners died. It must be terrible.
Pushing himself from the wall he was leaning up, Spike walked up to her and sat down next to her on the couch. "I'm sorry."
Bulma looked up at him a bit startled, as if just now noticing that he was there. She tried to give him a small reassuring smile that she was alright, before looking at the discussing group in the middle of the room. "She's a born leader," she remarked quietly, watching as Buffy coordinated the group.
"That she is. Only sometimes too stubborn for her own good. But sometimes this stubbornness is what helps her to pull it through." Flashing her an encouraging smile, he gently squeezed her shoulder. "Don't worry, Bulma. They'll get your mate back to you."
Much to his surprise, Bulma only nodded absently, a sudden determination flashing in her eyes. Spike somehow got a bad feeling about this. It almost seemed as if she was planning something and the only thing he could think of, was…
Suddenly an idea shot through his head, about how he could help, but before he could do anything, he needed to wait. If he was right, he could make at least one tiny difference, maybe enough of a difference to help them win this battle.
He smirked, as he leaned back on the couch and watched the others.
Maybe he could help them after all.
No matter what the cost.
As soon as the sun rose the next day, the Scoobies and what remained of the Z-warriors were gathered on the Lookout. They had gone there with one of Bulma's jets the moment the first light was to be seen at the horizon, knowing that they were now out of danger in the sky. Dende, the green guardian of this planet, had already expected them and offered them a huge breakfast.
Spike looked around the gathered group at the table, the whole time nervously playing with the box in his coat. His throat was incredibly dry and he couldn't eat a thing, still a small smirk tugged at his lips, when he remembered the previous night.
Buffy had been incredibly tense, still in Slayer mode, so Spike had done the only thing he knew to help her relax in a situation like this. He had made her forget, taken her to heaven, until she had fallen asleep spooned up against him. At this moment, while he had been watching her sleep, Spike had made up his mind. Before she disappeared in this room and before he set his own plan into motion, he was going to ask her.
Grudgingly, Spike rose from the table when the last Saiyajin had emptied his plate and declared that he was full along with the others. In only a few minutes Buffy would be gone and she would first be seeing him again in two years – if at all, he reminded himself with new determination. He didn't want to let her go, but he kept his mouth shut. She had her mind set on this and wouldn't back down. He knew her simply too well.
Too soon for his liking they were standing in front of the wooden door that would lead into the Room of Spirit and Time. Dawn was clinging at Buffy's neck, telling her to be safe, before letting go and stepping back. The others also said their goodbyes and in the end, she was looking at him.
"Spike…" she began, not quite knowing what to say. She knew things hadn't been good between them for the last few days – not even the previous night could make up for that - and it hurt her to go in there now with all those things between them. There were just too many possibilities of how things could turn out, too many bad endings and too few happy endings.
"Buffy…" he croaked and suddenly she was hugging him tightly. He sighed in relief, as he also put his arms around her, holding her tightly for the next few moments, until he suddenly got down on one knee and pulled out the box. There were many gasps around them, as he opened the box to reveal the silver ring with the blue stone. "I know, this might not be the best moment, but this might be the only chance I ever get, so…"
"Spike," Buffy mumbled softly, suddenly feeling tears prickling in her eyes.
"You don't even have to answer now… I mean, you've got two years to think about that… Just, so you know that I love you enough to want to marry you…" He took the ring out of the box and slid in onto her finger. "I love you…"
"I love you, too…" She gazed fondly first at the ring and then at Spike, giving him a bright smile, which quickly disappeared, as she suddenly glared at him, though the tiniest hint of a smile was still tugging at her lips. "When I get out and we stopped this apocalypse, we're going to have a long talk about appropriate moments. And then, when I'm finished with you, you're gonna get my answer…" Even though her voice sounded scolding, her eyes and the tug at her lips betrayed what she truly thought of this.
"Is this a threat?" Spike asked, raising his eyebrow.
Instead of answering his question at once, she pulled his head down into a fiery kiss, wanting it to last much longer, but, knowing that she shouldn't waste any more time, she let go of him with a regretful sigh, before taking a few step backwards. "It's a promise." Winking at Spike, Buffy grabbed the bag with the training clothes the Saiyains had provided her with and slung it over her shoulder. She put her hand on the handle and just wanted to open the door, as she turned back one more time, giving her friends a reassuring smile. "See ya later." After having taken a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped into the blinding light, feeling the eyes of her friends in her backs until the door fell shut with a soft click.
"She's really gone in there," Dawn mumbled disbelieving, as she stared at the closed door. "Do you think she'll be able to take this?"
Faith squeezed her shoulder with a smirk on her face, though her eyes betrayed the worry she was feeling for her sister Slayer. "Of course, it's B we're talking about. She can take everything."
"I'm sorry to bother you," Mirai suddenly said. "But we've got to collect seven Dragonballs and have less than twenty-four hours to do this."
"Of course," Faith said. "Then, what are we waiting for! Let's go!"
Spike was once again forced to watch as almost everyone, even his little Nibblet, was preparing to leave the Lookout. Only some of his old and new friends, mostly those that didn't know how to fly, stayed behind. He noticed the powerless look on Xander's face, no matter how hard the young man tried to hide his behind his mask of cheerfulness and optimism, and thought that he could almost relate to him. Being helpless sometimes really sucked. At least Spike had a plan.
His eyes wandered to Bulma, who watched all of this with some kind of cool detachment, but in her eyes she could see the determination. He would need to keep an eye on her, if he didn't want to miss his chance.
As soon as the door was closed, she recognized the place she was standing in as a large room with two four-poster beds at one side, a table in the middle and a kitchen at the other side. Nothing special but also not too bad. She sighed. So this was the place she was going to spend the next two years at.
After having put her bag down on one of the beds, she left the room, already feeling the stifling heat and the sweat that was running down her body. She had to shield her eyes to protect them from the glaring light, but when she had finally gotten used to it, Buffy could only gasp. The only thing she could see was pure white, wherever she looked.
She took a deep breath and descended the few steps until she was standing on the white ground, stumbling immediately and falling to her knees. A grunt escaped her lips, as she got up again, mumbling something about 'stupid gravity' under her breath. It had taken her by surprise, but she wasn't going to let that happen again.
Her eyes once again wandered around the room, or rather the vastness of white. This truly was incredible. Never had she seen something like this before, and she had seen a lot of things as a Slayer.
But damn! This was going to be harder than she thought.
"Welcome to the Room of Spirit and Time," a warm voice suddenly tore her out of her shock. She whirled around and saw a tall man with unruly black hair standing only a few feet away from her. The man gave her a lopsided grin, as he waved at her and said, "Hi! I'm Goku, your trainer. And you must be Buffy."