Chapter 27

Apollo 13

A/N: Chapter twenty seven of the series.

Disclaimer: All belongs to Joss Whedon and the parties involved in airing the show. Original characters are mine.

Feedback: Sure, as you wish.

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London, England

December 2017

Faith kept running and couldn't feel but help bad for ditching Robin.

She knew she'd been in too much of a hurry but she could have waited for a cab. Still, he knew how anxious she got before a fight and he knew as well she'd make it up for him once the battle was over.

So she ran full speed, knowing she could be in the Council minutes before he could even catch a cab. She smiled as she realized he'd understand and wouldn't give her hell about it.

She had never been in love before, so she didn't know if what she felt for Robin Wood was love or just thankfulness. He had seen past the murderer, the traitor, the violent, uneducated person and had been the first human being to not give up on her. He'd taught her everything a watcher could to a slayer, and what a good man could show a woman.

She would be forever grateful for the different kind of life he'd shown her. She didn't know many things, but she knew she'd stick with him for as long as he wanted to stick with her.

Faith chuckled and felt another slayer approaching. Her smile changed into a frown, because she never knew which of the thousand slayers was approaching, and missed the simple days when it had only been Buffy and herself.

She looked around and smiled as she heard the car honking at her. The smart car was quickly approaching and Faith could see Buffy's smile through the windshield.

The car slowed down a notch and Buffy opened the passenger's door. Understanding without words, Faith timed her jump and leapt at the still moving car. As Buffy took a sharp left, she smiled at Faith.

"Didn't know if you'd get it." She said. Faith laughed out loud and gave her both thumbs up.

"Figured you wouldn't want to waste time."

Buffy nodded and soon they were in the Council's garage. Minutes later they were inside Giles' office, looking at the Locator Screen.

"What's the plan, G-Man?" Faith asked. Both Xander and Giles turned their heads towards her. She smiled and shrugged.

"Well, we don't know what numbers we're against, here, but we're still deciding what to do about Jean." He answered.

"Meaning?" Buffy asked, staring at the unmoving red dots in Northern London.

"Was waiting for your input." Xander replied. "Should we endanger more slayers in a rescue attempt or should we accept what was seen through the video feed and concentrate on other things."

"Was it so bad?" Buffy asked again.

Willow pressed some buttons on her station and the Screen showed the video again.

"There's only one turok han." Buffy said.

"And four slayers are not moving." Giles countered. "We only saw one of them, Buffy, but the four red dots are not moving."

"For all we know, they're already dead." Xander said. "Cold, I know, but we have to be objective now."

"Well, I've killed many turok hans, and so has Lehanne here." Buffy said. Faith growled but nodded. "So I say we're going to see if Jean and her slayers are still alive."

"Let me come with you." Wesley suddenly spoke.

Buffy was surprised because of his sudden interest but nodded. Illyria stood forward as they began walking away but he turned around and stopped her on her tracks.

"You stay here." He said. "You'll help them more here."

She seemed unsure of what to say, but she nodded and went to seat on Wesley's battle station.

Everyone frowned but said nothing.

The three fighters left the office and were halfway down when Wesley spoke.

"No need to feel so nervous, Faith." He said. Faith squirmed but didn't speak.

"Not that I'm complaining, but why did you volunteer?" Buffy asked instead.

"I can feel them." He said. "Didn't want to upset the inner circle anymore, but there are many of them."

"What are you talking about?" Buffy questioned. "I can't feel them."

"I can't explain how, but Illyria felt them as well." He replied.

Buffy frowned but soon realized his intentions.

"How many?" She asked.

"Don't know." He replied. "I have to tell you, Buffy, if there are as many as I can actually feel, we won't be able to rescue your slayers."

"We still have to try." Faith intervened. "We can't leave anyone behind."

The three nodded and soon were on their way.

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Ten minutes later, they drove through an unusually quiet city.

"This is not right." Buffy said.

"Really." Faith sarcastically replied. "What tipped you off?"

Buffy smirked and shut off the headlights. There was something in the air not right, but their 'spidey' sense was not ringing in any way.

"They are near." Wesley said. "Can you feel them?"

"No." Both slayers said.

"That's odd." He replied. "They must have felt you already. We should hurry."

"Right." Buffy said, as she once again jammed her foot on the gas and did as Wesley asked.

In few minutes, they left the parked car and entered the old building from where Jean had sent the video message. Buffy and Faith sighed in relief as they felt their sister slayers and quickly ran inside.

Wesley frowned and decided to wait outside.

The night's air was cold and growing colder by the minute.

The temperature didn't affect him anymore, but he still felt it. The thing inside was leaping with joy, feeling primitive creatures of evil around.

'It feels just like home.' Welsey said. 'Or in a high school reunion.'

He frowned at the stupidity of his thoughts and cursed. He still was confused because of Illyria's display of intimacy back in the Council and felt helpless again. He had spent nine years avoiding her and in one moment of distraction, she touched him and sent his mind for a spin.

The thing disagreed and once again sent a wave of pure lust, making Wesley aware of how it felt every time he was near her.

'Forget it.' He though. 'She is not her. She is NOT her.'

But his mind and the thing were one and the same, and he had to agree he did feel something for her. Seemed as if the love he felt for Fred had morphed and he now felt love for Illyria.

'Madness.' He thought. 'The god inside doesn't think as a woman. It is not a woman. It is beyond something as simple as gender distinction.'

His thoughts were cut short when he felt more turok hans approaching. He let the thing surge forward and his eyes immediately grew more accustomed of the dark and he saw a pack of primitive vampires circling the premises.

"Buffy!" He screamed. He dimly heard her shouted reply and knew she was warned.

He took out his knife and prepared for whatever would come.

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Buffy and Faith jumped the stairs six steps at a time and were soon in the basement.

The image before them was not the gruesome picture they had foreseen and they both thanked God for small favors. The four slayers were badly beaten but they were still alive. They knew it was impossible, because the turok hans were quite strong and would not pass the chance of a free, unconscious meal.

They shook the slayers and waited until they recovered a small resemblance of consciousness. They were helping them stand up when they heard Wesley's scream. Buffy hollered back and began to panic. She looked at Faith and their eyes spoke without words.

"Can't feel them." Faith said.

"Guess that's why Jean was caught by surprise." Buffy replied, and picked two slayers, placing them on each shoulder. Faith mimicked the action and then sprinted upstairs.

Leaving the building, they noticed Wesley standing in the dark, crouched and ready to fight.

"Wesley!" Buffy said, running towards the car. "Ready to go!"

Wesley nodded without turning.

"They're here." He repeated. "Lots of them. Can't you feel them?"

"Nope." Faith answered, dumping the two slayers unceremoniously on the back seat of the car. "We guess that's why they surprised Jean and her pack."

"Probably." He said as he began walking back towards the car. He looked at it and realized the four unconscious slayers took over most of the back seat. He frowned and Faith pushed him to the passenger's seat.

"There's nothing wrong if I seat on your legs, ex watcher." She said. "Those slayers need medical attention and we need to hurry."

Wesley nodded and they were soon jammed inside the small car.

They sped out of the dark streets and saw a line of turok hans marching towards the center of the city.

"Dammit, why can't we feel them?" Buffy asked, feeling nervous and still not turning on the headlights.

"Quite mysterious." Wesley said, wishing Faith would stop moving in his lap. "I'm guessing there's a magical charm on them."

The two conscious slayers nodded and fell quiet as the car swiftly moved through the streets.

Turning left and seconds away from Piccadilly Circus, Buffy jammed her feet on the brakes and stared ahead, her eyes not believing what they were seeing. The three warriors opened the doors and left the car, their eyes wide open and their mouths dry.

Before them, an army of turok hans ravaged the city, destroying and setting the buildings on fire.

For a few seconds, they believed they were experiencing a collective hallucination, until the sound of sirens reached their ears.

The three of them turned to look at each other, unsure of what to do until Faith spoke.

"Houston, we've got a problem."

End of Chapter

A/N 2: Music for today:

Chevelle – Send the pan below

Korn – Deep Inside