A/N: I am so, so sorry. I just caught up in my college work and left you guys hanging. Thank you to everybody who has stuck around.

Thank you once more to my amazing and wonderful Beta Starway Man take a bow my friend.

"Speech"

'Thought'

'Pack Mental Communication'

Chapter 26 – New Arrival

Summers residence – 4:00 pm, Wednesday

The man's smile faded as Norman dropped the suitcase. What happened next, though, surprised both Cordelia and Xander...

Namely, Norman turned into a bug man. A man made of bugs, that is.

Cordelia spotted some worms on the guy's jacket, and then she saw some come out of his ear. The worms dropped to the floor and began to crawl towards her, which then prompted the female teen to yelp and plunge her fist through Norman's torso. Cordy had realized that the man stood in front of her was not human, and so there was no need to treat him like one.

But instead of falling down dead, the thing in front of her simply looked at the hand protruding from its body and dissolved the area around it into worms.

"EWWWWWWWWW, GROSS!" Cordelia wailed, withdrawing her hand and frantically shaking it to get rid of the worms covering it.

Xander's eyes widened, as he witnessed what happened. Without thinking, he charged forward in a blur of motion and tore the thing's head off. He was just as shocked as Cordelia, though, as Norman's head disintegrated in his hands, leaving him holding a mass of squirming bugs. The rest of the thing's body also disintegrated where it stood, leaving behind a large pile of worms – one that started regrouping into the pseudo-salesman that had previously stood before them.

Releasing another chorus of "Ewww's!" and "Yuck's!", Cordelia proceeded to do what any other girl presented with a man-sized pile of worms would do. She started stomping on them, uncaring of the mess being created on the Summers family's carpet.

"Ewww, Ewww, GROSSS!" Cordelia complained, as her new Gucci shoes were spattered with bug goop.

Xander joined in at inhuman speed, stamping his feet on the bug pile to help Cordelia out. It seemed to be working; once stomped on, the worms ceased moving. Pretty soon, they were sure Norman was dead. And it must be said that stomping on the worm guy gave both Xander and Cordelia a great deal of satisfaction, although both knew at the back of their minds that the rest of the Tarakan assassins (assuming that was what this guy had been) probably would not be this easy.

Once it was clear the situation was taken care of, Xander looked around at the state of Mrs. Summers' foyer and said, "Cor, we gotta clean up in here before we go."

"Ya think?" Cordelia replied sarcastically, glaring at him for good measure. But she refrained from saying anything else, as the two sparkle-pires got to work and quickly cleaned up the mess.

Leaving the newly cleaned house, and ensuring both the door and the windows were locked, Cordelia turned to her roommate and said, "Major ick and ultimate 'ewwww', I can't believe I was forced to do that! Mister, you're buying me TWO pairs of Gucci shoes to make up for it," she complained.

"Fine, Cordy, okay - but would you mind trying to find Buffy and play bodyguard, please?" Xander said pleadingly, silently asking Cordelia to cease with the complaining.

'Wow he's actually begging me for something? Hmmm, never thought that would happen, and so serious too,' Cordelia thought, seeing the seriousness in Xander's face.

Rolling her eyes outwardly, the young woman who looked like Rosalie Cullen subsequently agreed to his request; knowing if Buffy was anywhere that men couldn't go, out of the two of them, she was the better option to safeguard the Chosen One. So they separated, and Xander headed back to Slayer Central.

When he got there Harris saw Giles looking through more books and Willow sleeping at the main table. 'That's odd, she must have had a bad day to be asleep at this time of afternoon...' Smiling at his sleeping friend, Xander gently arranged Willow so she was more comfortable. He laughed quietly when she mumbled about tadpoles.

Giles turned to Xander and asked quietly, so as not to wake Willow, "Did you talk to her?"

"Nope, sorry Giles. When we parted company, Cordelia started searching for the Buffster and she'll take first watch keeping a lookout for more weirdness," Xander said, feeling how Giles looked.

"Weirdness?" Giles asked with an upraised eyebrow.

Xander quickly told him all about the Worm Guy he and Cordy had encountered at Buffy's house.

"It's begun, then," Giles mumbled, even if Xander's vampire hearing let him understand quite clearly as the Watcher slumped into a chair.

Xander swallowed the lump that had risen in his throat. "Giles, what do we do?" he asked.

"I, I…I don't know, Xander, I just don't know," Giles sighed, rubbing his temples.

Sitting down next to the still-sleeping Willow, Xander tried to think of how they could protect Buffy from the assassins. Unfortunately, he couldn't think of anything other than taking them out one at a time, as they showed themselves in order to kill their target. And all it took was one mistake, one instinctive move to kill one of the Order's killers and leave Buffy exposed to another assassin, for that plan to end in bloody, messy death for the Slayer.

Suddenly, Giles stood up and rushed over to the book cage, frantically grasping and throwing books out of the cage, and waking up Willow. Just as shocked at the Watcher's treatment of his beloved books as he was at Giles' behavior, Xander rushed to his side.

"What is it?" the young man who looked like Emmett Cullen asked.

"I think I may have the answer," Giles replied frantically.

With a triumphant "Aha!" the Watcher rushed to the table where Willow was rubbing her eyes, and wondering what was going on. "Uh...Giles, what the..." the Rosenberg girl asked, kinda stunned.

"Willow, call Oz and tell him to bring his pack here!" Giles ordered her.

"Should I get Buffy and Cordelia?" Xander asked.

"No, you can fill Cordelia in later – but Buffy must stay out of danger, if she goes anywhere near the Order she'll be killed," Giles said, looking through a book.

Nodding, Willow grabbed her cell and speed-dialed her werewolf boyfriend. Within minutes, the pack was there having come from Oz's house – which, naturally enough, had been renamed The Lair by Andrew.

"Hey," the Alpha greeted everyone as he, Warren, Andrew and Jonathan came through the doors, but Oz quickly lost his smile at seeing the agitated Watcher. "What's up?"

Absently, Giles noticed Andrew looked better than he had in weeks. He rubbed his eyes tiredly and motioned for the boys to sit down. Getting straight to the point, Giles told the pack what Xander had told him, with Xander clarifying some points every now and then.

"So you see, two of them a-a-are down already. Usually a team of, of three are sent out per kill – but Xander and Cordelia, they, they may have taken the anger of the Order to another level," Giles explained.

"Because they killed one of the assassins, and they're not even the target?" Warren asked.

"That's right, Warren," Giles replied. Then he said to Oz, "How do you feel a-a-about killing something half-human that's a threat to Buffy, Cordelia and Xander? I only ask because of, err, how you feel about Buffy." Ignoring Willow's gasp, the Watcher kept his eyes on the Alpha wolf, waiting for Oz's reply.

"Giles, I don't hate Buffy. I just don't like her decisions, well, some of them. Now what is it you want us to do?" Oz asked firmly.

Placing the book on the table, Giles placed his hands on the table until all the group had seen the worst the Order had to offer. "The Order will know that something is, is guarding the Slayer. Not who or what," Giles said, looking at Xander.

"No offense, G-man, but I'm not who I was back on Halloween. Despite appearances I'm not Emmett, and quite frankly, I look forward to the challenge," Xander replied, with a slight predatory growl.

"I know, Xander, but…well, I still worry," the Watcher answered sadly. He left unspoken the fear that one day, he and Cordelia would possibly be hunted by the Watchers Council.

"I know you do, Giles, and I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say I love it that you care," the sparkle-pire replied with a loud chuckle and a small smirk.

"Yo guys, sorry to interrupt - but why are they sending this dude, if Xan and Cor have already shown they can kick assassin ass?" Andrew piped up.

Giles exhaled loudly, pointing at the book. "This creature is, is sent for enemies o-o-or targets that the assassins cannot contain or neutralize."

"You mean, when they fail to kill them?" Jonathan asked softly.

"Yes. It, um, makes this, this creature more dangerous than the three normal assassins combined," Giles said softly.

Shocked at the Watcher's statement, even Xander with his newfound Emmett-ish love for new challenges had a pause for thought. He broadcast to the others, 'Well, then, I guess there's only one thing left to ask.'

"What do you need from us?" five voices asked in unison.

"Well…" Giles began to say.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX

Sunnydale Mall – 6:00 pm

Buffy looked at the mush that was once a Slurpee, as she started stirring the mush with her straw.

"I shoulda known. Maybe you should introduce yourself to all the monsters around here as Mopey, the Vampire Slayer," said the sarcastic voice of Cordelia Chase.

"Hello, Cordelia," Buffy replied with no enthusiasm whatsoever, looking up at the pissed blonde.

"Look Buffy, I can't say I understand what you're going through, although I'm pretty sure I can beat it," Cordelia said, getting straight to the point. As the sparkle-pire said that she pointed at herself, giving Buffy a clear idea of what she was talking about. Cordy then flicked her hair as she sat down, the same way she always did, causing Harmony to frown not far away; before the new queen of Sunnydale High shook her head in dismissal and she resumed lecturing her Harmonettes.

"Cordy…" Buffy began.

Holding a hand up, Cordy stopped her in her tracks. "No. I get that you're scared after Giles said what he did, but YOU need to know one thing and one thing only. Namely, YOU are not alone; now move your ass, on account of you have a patrol to do!"

Stunned, but unknowingly stomping the fear to bits, Buffy stood and followed the female vampire instead of heading home or to Angel's apartment. Inwardly, Cordelia knew she and Buffy would never speak of what had occurred either now or in the future, but it pleased her to realize that even Buffy Summers was capable of understanding that Cordelia Chase took crap from no one, and was willing to call it as she saw it.

"Vampires of Sunnydale, beware," Queen C snarked, as they left the mall heading to the largest of Sunnyhell's cemeteries.

Twenty minutes later, Cordelia was brushing the dust and ashes off her clothes, growling at the Slayer, "Did you have to dust that sad excuse for a vampire while the wind was blowing MY way?"

"Gee, Cordy, I dunno. Guess I wasn't thinking about that, I WAS kinda busy after all," Buffy snarked back.

Suddenly the wind shifted and Cordelia's head whipped round so fast Buffy almost missed it. Before she could ask what was wrong, though, a female body slammed into Cordelia, bouncing and landing heavily on the ground. Even as the black girl started to deliver a stake to her chest Cordelia whipped her hand out, grasping the attacker by the throat before Buffy could even process what was happening.

"Who are you?" Cordelia growled, holding her attacker motionless.

"I am de Vampire Slayer," the girl gurgled, her Jamaican accent thick as she struggled to move her arm – but failing miserably due to Cordelia's superhuman strength.

"Wait, WHAT? No way, I'm the damned Slayer!" a shocked Buffy yelled.

"I am SHE," the new girl ground out, now turning her glare in Buffy's direction despite Cordelia's hand around her throat.

"Another Slayer?" Cordelia queried as she got up, relaxing her grip slightly, but still holding the now-kicking Slayer.

"Stop. That. Right. Now," Cordelia growled, her eyes growing darker. The black girl froze instantly, knowing she was outmatched and not wanting to die before she could take these two with her.

"No way, this is crazy. Unless – oh wait, were you called back in May?" Buffy asked, after a burst of insight.

"Yes. Why do ya ask?" the newcomer briefly looked confused.

"I get it now. You must be number two," Buffy mused after a moment, motioning Cordy to put the new Slayer down.

After placing her captive on the ground, Cordelia asked Buffy, "What do you mean, number two?"

"The Master," was all that Buffy said, not caring to dwell upon those memories.

Cordelia nodded in response, recalling the story she had heard from Xander. The girl tried to attack again once Cordy let go; but Cordelia grabbed the stake which had simply bounced off her magnificent chest, looking completely unfazed.

"You're not a vampire?" the shocked junior Slayer asked, stunned not so much by what she had witnessed happen but rather than the fact she had made a mistake in classifying her opponent as one of the bumpy forehead crowd.

"Not exactly. Well, I'm not the kind that you know, anyway," Cordelia snarled, pinning one of the black girl's arms behind her back and looking ready to snap it.

"Wait, Cordelia, stop!" Buffy yelled, grabbing the other girl from behind and fixing the former cheerleader with an angry glare.

"Why? She ruined my favorite halter top, AND she just tried to stake me!" Cordelia replied, growling furiously.

"Please, Cordy, don't kill her or anything. As for the clothing issue, I'll buy you a new one," the Chosen One pleaded. Buffy did not like doing that, her nature as the Slayer was screaming at her to simply attack the vampiress; but Miss Summers knew that she was just as outclassed as the newbie Slayer when it came to going up against a sparkle-pire, and reasoning with the incredibly beautiful blonde was the only viable course of action.

Pouting, Cordelia replied, "Fine. I was just gonna scare her a little, anyway."

Buffy glared at her again, as the female vampire returned her attention to the furious black girl in her arms. Buffy then placed a hand on Cordelia's arm and said to the new Slayer, "Promise me that you won't go all wiggy and try that again, 'cause you've seen how fast my friend moves. So let's call a truce to the hostilities, alright? We'll go to my Watcher right now, and sort this all out? Whaddya say?" Buffy asked encouragingly.

Even with the situation she was in, the new girl could only ask one thing. "What is 'wiggy'?"

"It mean no fighting, dummy, or else I show you what I can do to you – before you could even blink," Cordelia responded, squeezing slightly and earning a gasp of pain from the new girl.

"I accept yer terms," the Slayer winced, keeping her eyes on Cordelia.

Putting the black girl down and releasing her, Cordelia grasped the remains of her top in one hand and led the way as the two Slayers trailed behind her.

"I'm Buffy," the older Chosen One said, holding her hand out and ignoring the derisive snort from in front of her.

"Dey call me Kendra," the new girl replied, shaking Buffy's hand.

"So why are you here?"

"My Watcher sent me here ta do my dooty," Kendra replied.

"Why did you attack my friend?"

"I t'ought you and her were vampires."

Buffy couldn't help herself. She smiled and said, "Oh, a swing and a miss for the rookie."

Cordelia laughed it up in front of them. Kendra, for her part, lapsed into silence. She still wasn't sure what was going on here, and secretly hoped that she wasn't being led into a trap.

'Mr. Zabuto never warned me aboot anyt'ing like dis...'

A short while later, as they entered the library through the double doors, everyone looked up. Xander stood and after seeing Cordelia's wardrobe malfunction, he immediately placed his jacket around her shoulders.

'Thanks, Xander,' Cordy thought at him gratefully, definitely appreciating the feel of his hands on her body.

'No problem, Cor. Now what happened?' came the concerned response.

Cordelia quickly filled Xander in as Buffy introduced the new Slayer to the group. Giles stood up, holding his glasses in one hand as he began to pace in front of the two Slayers. Cordelia and Xander refocused in time to hear Giles ask, "You say Samuel Zabuto is your Watcher?"

"Yes sir," Kendra replied, hands behind her back. She had become convinced that all this was for real, as soon as she had met Giles. He and Mr. Zabuto did not look alike physically, but the mannerisms, the accent, the books and everything else had convinced her that he and Buffy truly were with the Council.

"So he's real?" Buffy questioned the British man.

"Oh yes, Buffy, he's real. We've never met, but Mr. Zabuto is a well-respected Watcher," Giles replied.

"So what's your name?" Willow asked Kendra.

"My name is Kendra."

"And, and your last name?" Willow asked, confused.

"I don't have one. Now, who are you?" the Caribbean Slayer demanded.

"I'm Willow. I'm a friend of Buffy's," the red-haired hacker said a little self-consciously.

"Friend?" the confused newcomer echoed.

"Yeah. You know; pal, buddy, chum. Someone you hang out with?" was Xander's slightly aggressive response.

"Xander," a somewhat shocked Giles said reprovingly.

"What? Seriously, was I the only one who saw what Cordy looked like, when she came in here just now?" Xander replied angrily, his feelings for his not-quite-a-girlfriend affecting his judgment to a larger extent than he realized. "I mean, I'm not wrong in assuming that this girl attacked her without any reason, am I?"

"Xander, not now," Cordelia said, placing her hand in his. Deep down, though, she was pleased that her roommate was automatically so defensive of her, and disliked the new arrival because of her actions.

Xander squeezed her hand and sighed. "I don't like what she did to you."

"And you don't have to, but let's hear her out first," Oz replied, holding his hands up at Xander's glare. "I'm just saying."

"Who are you people?" Kendra looked around at the gang in confusion.

Buffy spoke up, "They're my friends, all of 'em. Even Cordelia."

"But dey're civilians! Mr. Giles?" the shocked Kendra said, looked around the table. She was unable to comprehend what she sensed, and sent a frantic questioning glance at Giles.

"Yes, well, Kendra, you see, all these people know Buffy's secret identity as the Slayer, and, um, they, err, socialize together," Giles confessed, looking embarrassed.

"And you allow dis, sir?" Kendra honestly couldn't seem to grasp what she was hearing.

"Well…erm," Giles replied hesitantly. "I, uh, 'allow' isn't exactly the word..."

"De Slayer needs ta work in secret," Kendra said firmly.

"Sure, and yet oddly enough, the Chosen crowd all die within a year or two of service," Xander growled at her, as Cordelia squeezed his hand a little tighter. "Seriously, did it never occur to you that that 'she alone must hunt the vampires' crap is actually part of the problem?"

"Look, I get that all this sounds mondo-weird to you. Totally insane even, maybe. But this is the Hellmouth, and I don't CARE what the rules are supposed to be! I got friends, they help me and they have my back in the fight," Buffy said stiffly, after seeing Kendra glare at Xander. "It's why I'm not dead right now, and there are two of us in existence at the same time."

"I understand dat. Still, dere is much I still do not understand," the younger Slayer stated firmly. Pointing at the redhead and the Watcher, Kendra said, "Mr. Giles and dis Willow person are de only ones here dat feel...normal ta me. All de odders, dey don't feel right. Dey don't feel human."

Glancing around at each other, the gang quickly realized that their guest would have to be told the full story. Giles looked at each of them, and after hearing Xander's voice in his mind giving permission to share the whole story, he looked back towards Kendra.

"Well, you see, i-i-it all began back on Halloween…"

TBC…