Disclaimer: Still…hate…disclaimers…immensely! I own nothing but ideas and OCs, you all know who they are.
Quick Note: Lauren is going to continue calling Angelus Vindex just Angelus as a sort of nickname. Kris and sometimes Bastian will just call him Vindex or Vin for short. I will continue to call him Angelus. Alright, on with the chapter.
Soundtrack: Whispers in the Dark by Skillet (Music, not the lyrics)
The next morning, Lauren was surprised to find herself in her own bed. She was thinking that the events of last night, the tender moments at least, had all just been a dream. She got out of bed, changed into a black tank top with a pair of blue jeans, pulled her light red hair up in a ponytail, and went to find Angelus.
Bastian and Kris were already up and having breakfast of makeshift toast.
"Well, isn't it little miss attitude" Kris noted.
"Back off, jack off. Where's Angelus?" Lauren asked.
"Outside somewhere. It was Angelus who brought you back here last night" Bastian answered calmly.
"You two looked so cute together, you know that? Kinda like a new…beauty and the beast kinda deal".
"You, Kris Larson, are sick. You are a sick, sick person! You know there is no chance in hell for that to happen!".
"Not how I'm seeing it".
"Then change your point of view or get out of my sight. I won't put up with your crap, Kris. You'll show Angelus and me the respect we deserve. If you keep up like this, you're not going to like how it ends" Lauren grabbed her shotguns and walked out.
******
"Angelus? Angelus, you out here?" Lauren called out to her guardian.
I am.
Lauren sighed. "Good to know".
How'd you sleep?
"Well, actually. Better than I have in a few years. So, where are you?".
Close, Animula. Be patient, I am coming to you.
"I hate waiting. Trust me, I wouldn't know where to go".
Lauren waited for about five minutes until she saw Angelus coming to her with something slumped over his shoulder.
"What is it?" Lauren asked when Angelus set it down.
It had a wolf like appearance, but it was too large and mechanical. It was made of the same silver like metal that Angelus was under his skin. Lauren stared at it and then at her guardian.
"What is it?" she asked again.
"Our new enemy. Skynet…it is no longer just making machines with human anatomical structures. They have evolved to animals. I caught this one attacking another Hunter".
"But if it's Skynet's, why would it attack other machines made by Skynet?".
"It is their programming. They are meant to attack, and destroy, weaker, earlier models".
"And therefore they step forward faster on the evolutionary chain by wiping out all competition. Angelus…we have to stop this. God knows what Skynet's gonna come up with next. This is the only one you've found?".
"It is, but rest assured, there are more".
"How many do you think?".
"Thousands, maybe even more".
"God" Lauren stared at the mechanical creature, "Help us. I don't know about you, but I'm thinking we need a miracle".
"And we will get it, Animula. We just need some more time".
"Only problem is…time is what we lack".
A/N: So now that we know exactly what the heck our gang's going up against, what next? Well, here's a look: Angelus comes up with a plan that leaves questions about an ominous future for one of the group. Bastian and Lauren bond, while Kris and Angelus get into some trouble with these new "Beast Machines". See ya!