Disclaimers

All characters appearing in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel are copyright Joss Whedon. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holder.

All characters appearing in Marvel Comics are copyright Marvel Entertainment and Walt Disney Company. No infringements of these copyrights are intended, and are not authorized by the copyright holders.

All original characters are the property of Celgress.

Buffy and the Lethal Protector – Episode Two: Some Assembly Required and Enter Spike & Dru

By

Celgress

Makeshift Laboratory in an abandoned building late September 1997, afternoon

Eric Gittleson prepared his hacksaw with glee. Truth be told what he was doing was only partially about helping his zombie friend Daryl Epps, well strictly speaking Daryl was actually his friend Chris' brother not his own friend. In life the towering teen had wanted nothing to do with Eric and his eccentricities, that Daryl was now depended upon for his future happiness since his brother Chris had abandoned the cause was rather ironic.

"Hurry up Eric, before something goes wrong again." Daryl the zombie urged.

"Don't rush me Daryl, perfection takes time. Now where was I again?" Eric said examining the unconscious Cordelia's neck gently tilting her head from side to side. "Ah now I remember. I think I'm ready to begin."

"We think not." A black fanged monstrosity said from the ceiling.

Before either teenager or zombie could react Venom landed between them. An instant later Buffy kicked open the door. It was clear to Eric both protectors meant serious business. Dropping his handsaw he pointed accusingly at Daryl the zombie. Eric then inconspicuously pocketed a scalpel while everyone was distracted by his theatrics.

"He did, I'm innocent! Chris made me bring his brother back. Believe me I didn't want to. Once Daryl was revived he and Chris ganged up on me. Using Cordelia's head was their idea. I advised against it."

"Why you lying sack of crap! I trusted you!" Daryl the zombie bellowed grabbing Eric by his shirt collar. Daryl the zombie easily rag-dolled Eric tossing him over the gurney on which Cordelia lay knocked out overturning an active bunson burner amongst other things. Fire soon spread throughout the cramped room engulfing the laboratory equioment in flames.

At that moment Daryl the zombie turned his rage on Buffy as Eric slunk away Venom hot on his trail. "This is all your fault! If you and your freakish friend hadn't interfered I'd have someone of my very own now." Daryl the zombie lunged at Buffy in his rage. Soon slayer and zombie where exchanging blows, with zombie getting the worst of it.

Cordelia had come to during the commotion. Screaming in panic once she felt hungry flames licking at her gurney. Cordelia then found herself saved by the most unlikely of people, Xander Harris! Defying danger Xander retrieved the gurney she was strapped to and pushed it outside.

Seeing the headless form of his intended undead mate being consumed by the burgeoning inferno Daryl the zombie tossed Buffy aside. Throwing his body on top of the gurney the inert form occupied Daryl sobbed that they would be together forever. Scrambling to safety Buffy spared one final glance as flames rapidly consumed Daryl and his would be bride.

Meanwhile outside Eric was running away from Venom fast as he could. He'd made it to a vacant lot two streets over when his feet were pulled out from under him by twin strands of thick webbing. Thrashing around wildly on the ground Eric flopped over. He looked up into his pursuer's fearsome face.

"Naughty, naughty running away from a crime scene," Venom said wagging his right index finger admonishingly in Eric's terrified face.

"Get away freak," Eric said drawing the scalpel from his pocket and brandishing it threateningly at Venom. Amused Venom played along like a cat tormenting it's hopelessly cornered prey. Venom backed off slightly allowing Eric to cut his feet free. "That's it back off buddy, I'll use this. I swear I will!" Eric warned back on his feet.

"Please do," Venom said slowly stepping towards Eric.

"I'm warning you, last chance." Eric said.

"Tell us Eric did you enjoy it?" Venom said disregarding Eric's feeble threat.

"Enjoy what," Eric said puzzled by his tormentor's comment, Venom's slimy tongue now less than six inches from his face.

"Your sick science project Eric corrupting life and death, violating the scared laws of the universe? Will you seek forgiveness for your sins? Are you truly sorry as Chris Epps is?" Venom said.

"Why should I be? Tell me that huh?" Eric said becoming emboldened by his own delusions of grandeur. "I brought somebody back from the dead man. I'm a freaking genius all be it a dark one, but still a genius. I feel no shame."

"We see," Venom said coldly, not moving a muscle. "What about Ms. Chase's life? She was an innocent in all this. Would you really have taken her natural life and then replaced it with a pale imitation wrought by your twisted machinations?"

"She should be so honored. I'd have granted her life everlasting, existence without end!" Eric brazenly declared.

"You'd do this all again after everything that has transpired, given the opportunity correct?" Venom said.

"Of course," Eric said.

"Then we know what we must do." Venom said snatching away Eric's weapon faster than seemed possible with his right hand Venom's left encircled Eric's neck viciously chocking Eric.

Buffy rounded the corner in time to see Venom snap Eric Gittleson neck with ease. "No," Buffy screamed running forward to Eric's prone form. "Why," Buffy said glaring disapprovingly at Venom.

"He posed a continuing threat to innocents. He freely admitted as much to us. We couldn't allow that threat to remain." Venom said calmly.

"We don't kill humans Venom." Buffy said tears of rage in her eyes.

"You don't, we do." Venom said turning his back on Buffy. "We may be needed back at the crime scene. Stay here if you want." The symbiote rearranged itself into a configuration visibly identical to casual clothing as Eddie Brock strolled away.

Outside the burning Abandoned Building, sometime later

Xander and Willow were moping about feeling sorry for each other when Eddie returned. This was a regular favorite pastime of the Willow and Xander since entering junior high school. Lamenting their lack of romantic entanglements they barely noticed Eddie or then Cordelia approach covered in a blanket give her by EMTs until she spoke.

"Thank you Xander for saving me." Cordelia said sweetly.

"Uh yeah about that," Xander said stammering at a loss for words. Xander felt a sudden hard slap to the back of his head.

"Don't be a putz kid. Say what you feel." Eddie said putting his arm around Xander's shoulders

"Uh Cordelia maybe we can catch a movie some time, once you've fully recovered from your ordeal." Xander said.

"I'd like that." Cordelia said with a genuine smile then got into the waiting ambulance. "Bye Xander, Willow, Mr. Brock."

"Bye Cordelia." Willow said grumpily. She couldn't believe Xander, with urging from Eddie, had asked Crdelia out rather than her.

"Bye Ms. Chase." Eddie said then giving Xander a good natured squeeze added. "See it wasn't that hard."

Sunnydale High School that evening

"He killed Eric Gittleson right in front of me." Buffy said to her Watcher, Jenny Calendar, Willow, Xander and Angel who all sat at one of the tables in the library. Buffy had called the emergency meeting purposely excluding their new "friend" Eddie/Venom soon as the aftermath of their latest misadventure had been taken care of.

"Maybe it was an accident or a heat of the moment kind of deal?" Angel offered hopefully.

"No, it was deliberate and he was proud of having done it. He told me so." Buffy said shaking her head.

"My wood," Giles exclaimed.

"Did he say why exactly he did it?" Jenny asked.

"Yes, he said Eric deserved it. That Eric would remain a threat to 'innocents' if Eric remained alive." Buffy said.

"Its' not like it wasn't true you know." Xander said.

"Xander," Willow gasped.

"I'm sorry Will but unlike Chris his buddy Eric was actually going to murder Cordelia and then turn her into a zombie. I think the world is a safer place without Eric in it." Xander said.

"That isn't for us or Eddie Brock, Venom or whatever he calls himself to decide Xander." Buffy reminded.

"Buffy is right." Jenny said. "We can't just start going around killing human beings because we think they are evil."

"Think, Eric was pretty damn evil if you ask me that much was clear." Xander said. "What about vampires huh, we have no problem killing them in droves."

"Its' different," Angel said surprising everyone by his frankness. "Most vampires have zero capacity for redemption. They are soulless killing machines."

"Present company accepted eh?" Xander joked, no one laughed so he plowed on with his argument. "Hitler had a soul, right. Killing him wouldn't have been a bad thing. I think we can all agree on that."

"You're missing the point Xander." Buffy said.

"Of course I am." Xander said indignantly.

"I think it would be wise if we distance ourselves from Eddie Brock and his 'other', at least in the short term." Giles said.

"I agree." Buffy said raising her hand.

"I agree." Angel said raising his hand slowly.

"I afraid I don't see any other options at present." Jenny said raising her hand reluctantly. Willow raised her hand next avoiding eye contact with Xander.

"I don't believe what I'm seeing." Xander said jumping up from the table.

"Xander wait," Willow called after him.

"Save it Will, I'm not in the mood." Xander waved leaving.

"That certainly could have gone better," Jenny sighed.

"Indeed," Giles added dryly.

Sunken Church

Lucien sat upon the Master's former throne watching the brethren of Aurelius scourge themselves with cat o' nine tails, chanting dark hymns in preparation for Saint Vigeous' Night. Less than a week remained until the unholy time arrived, when their powers would be at their height. Then the current Slayer Buffy Summers would die. Once that accursed brat had reached her much deserved end their beloved Master would be returned to unlife. Lucien had spent his time since arriving in Sunnydale last week painstakingly devising his greatest enchantment yet. A potent potion which when mixed with the slain Summers girl's blood and sprinkled over the Master's ashes at a proper time of mystical conjunction would reincarnate the Master on this mortal plane. All was progressing as Lucien had foreseen it. Their ultimate victory was only a matter of time.

"Oie who do you have to kill around her to gain some respect." A male bleached blonde vampire in an old black duster said pushing his way into Lucien's audience chamber. He pulled along a black haired vampiress in a flowing white gown.

"Pardon," Lucien said unimpressed by the new arrival's bravado. "Who may you be?"

"Name's Spike this here is Drusilla." The bleached blonde male vampire said pointing at the lethargic black haired vampiress behind him.

"And," Lucien said.

"And what, Mr. Fancy," Spike said.

"And why exactly should I care." Lucien clarified.

"Because I'm Spike the slayer of slayers, perhaps you've heard of me?" Spike said arrogantly.

"Can't say I have," Lucien said.

Spike muttered something rather salty under his breath before continuing. "I here you have a slayer problem. I can solve your little issue, for a price."

"Ah now I understand." Lucien said smiling. "What do you propose Spike?"

"When," Spike said.

"Ah uh, if," Lucien corrected while laughing.

"When," Spike continued after gritting his teeth. "I take care of the slayer I want you to cure my darling Dru here. Restore her strength."

"This one has great power." Drusilla said dreamily gliding away from Spike moving towards Lucien. "My head is filled by him. I can hear nothing else. He is the spellbinder. He will entrap the slayer and her friends. He is a great spider we are all enmeshed in his web."

"She's psychic," Lucien said his eyes lighting up. "But her mind is clouded by confusion, how unfortunate." Lucien frowned. "Who would do such a thing?"

"My Daddy hurt me badly." Dru said childishly.

"Who is your sire child?" Lucien said.

"Angelus my lord," Dru said.

"Kill the slayer I'll gladly do as you ask." Lucien said to Spike. "However be forewarned the Night of Saint Vigeous approaches it will be opened season on the slayer should one of my followers terminate her instead our deal is off, now leave me. I must meditate on recent events." Spike nodded grabbing Drusilla by her arm and pulling her after him out of the room.

To Be Continued