See first chapter for disclaimers.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to Storyseeker for beta-reading this. As usual, if you have any comments or preferences, please don't be shy. RandR.
PREVIOUSLY: Flash and Winx Club
Intruders
Barry waved good-bye as they left him outside Star Labs. It hadn't taken more than a minute of him zipping around town to verify that he was home and not just in another alternate version of Central City. Xander led the way through the latest portal and stepped into… "What the hell?"
They had emerged into a corridor. There was debris on the floor and the only light available was flashing red, and accompanied by an alarm that was quickly getting on their nerves. The lighting was dim, but the place looked familiar somehow. Before Xander could puzzle it out, the ground shook, nearly knocking him to his knees.
"Earthquake?" Faith asked, doubtfully.
"I'm pretty sure we're on a ship of some kind." Xander shook his head. "And I think it's under attack." There was another shudder and what sounded like an explosion farther down the corridor. The explosion was followed by screams and the two demon hunters rushed toward the sound. Faith glanced about as they ran, a vague memory stirring. Sci-fi really wasn't her thing, but this place definitely looked familiar. Xander, geek that he was, probably knew, but there were more important things to worry about at the moment.
They rounded a corner and found that a section of the wall had fallen in, pinning a bearded man in a red and black uniform to the floor. Deck, Faith corrected herself. If this is a ship, it's a deck. They carefully stepped over him and got into position.
"I'll lift, you pull." Faith directed, grasping the beam.
"Ready."
It was a strain, but Faith managed to lift the beam enough for Xander to pull the man out. She let it drop as soon as he was clear. "I'll check on the others. You see if he's alright." She moved further down the corridor, finding two bodies next to a blackened section of wall with bits of shattered high tech gizmo hanging out of it and a door that was jammed. It was only open a few inches, and there were people trapped inside, based on what she could hear.
After trying the door, she moved back down the corridor and found a piece of metal debris that resembled a pry bar. With that and a bit of Slayer muscle, she managed to pry open the door. It proved to be crew quarters. There was a woman in a blue and black uniform and several kids. The woman stared at Faith in confusion for a second, then pushed the kids to the far side of the room and stood protectively in front of them.
"Stay or go." Faith shrugged. "I don't care, but at least now you've got the option." She turned to head back to Xander, but paused. "There's a wounded man out here who could use a doctor." She turned and left the confused woman looking after her. She found Xander checking the man's pulse and trying to rouse him.
"He's out like a light, but I don't think he's hurt too bad." He looked around. "No idea where sickbay is."
"I found someone who can call," she told him. "Let's see if we can find anyone else." Faith headed down the corridor, away from the room with the woman who was, she suspected, calling security about a pair of intruders.
They moved around the corridors for a time, freeing a few more trapped crewmen, and applying a tourniquet to a familiar looking Irish man in a yellow and black uniform. The large ugly gash in his right leg seemed to warrant it. Faith was almost sure she knew where they were by now, but didn't bother to discuss it with Xander. There was too much to do.
On the upside, the ship had stopped shaking and the alarms had been shut off. As things were calming down, the two reasoned it wouldn't be long before someone took notice of them. Most of those they helped seemed unsure of what to make of them. One or two asked why they were out of uniform, but most seemed to realize that they weren't supposed to be there, not that they objected to what the abnormally strong young woman and one eyed man were doing. Eventually, though, someone did object. A large dark skinned alien approached them with a drawn weapon.
They obliged him by stopping and raising their hands in surrender. Xander was smiling openly, and Faith feared he might annoy her and the alien by asking for an autograph.
Fortunately, he restrained himself and they were soon being marched towards the brig. "How did you transport on board while the shields were up?" their host growled.
"We didn't," Xander answered honestly.
"How long have you been aboard?"
"Got here about 20 minutes ago," Faith answered easily. The reactions of the two demon hunters were clearly confusing the man with the gun, and he didn't like being confused. He put the two, unresisting, in a cell.
"You will tell me why you were sent here and what you were planning."
"Sure," Xander said easily. "Just ask."
He blinked at them in surprise. "Why did you board our ship?"
"Didn't really have a choice in the matter," Xander answered honestly.
"The place we left was getting unfriendly."
"What have you done since you came aboard?"
Faith thought for a moment. "Freed about eight trapped people, applied three pressure bandages and one tourniquet." She shrugged when the ship's security chief glowered at her. "Hey, it was that or watch him bleed out."
"You boarded this ship in the middle of a battle to help the crew?" His tone was beyond incredulous. Xander ignored it.
"Not specifically," he admitted, "but that's what needed doing." He could see the big guy was getting angry, so he continued. "You've got an empath on board, don't you? Ask her to come down and see if she can detect any lies." Xander looked especially eager for this to happen.
Faith rolled her eyes. "Down boy."
The scowl on their host's face deepened. "We will learn the truth about you." He turned and strode off, leaving them in the brig behind a force field. Xander shrugged and glanced at Faith. "Is it our fault he doesn't believe us?"
Faith shrugged in reply and looked around the cell. "Whatever we're here to do, we've either done it or we won't get the chance now."
Xander nodded in agreement. "Which means…3, 2, 1." He looked around expectantly. Faith just smirked at him.
"It's not a dog, Xan. I doubt it's gonna start coming when we call."
"We can hope," he said, shrugging.
The portal shimmered quietly into existence at the back of the cell. Faith stared at it. "Huh." Then she shrugged and walked through; Xander right behind her.
