Chapter 3: Abilities
"Okay people time to close up for the evening." Anne said looking at her watch. It was almost time for curfew when a young girl came to near. She saw she was wearing a coat but could see her pants were ripped and her shirt was almost virtually non existent. Anne rushed over to. "Excuse me are you okay?"
"Not really... my boyfriend kinda abandoned me. Broke up with me in bad way before leaving the country." She said.
Anne nodded looking at the condition the girl was in.
"Is this the East Street Teen Center?" she asked.
"Yes it is. Come on in. My name's Anne."
"April." She smiled back.
***
April was now in a place alone in the teen center looking at herself in the mirror. She had ditched the ripped shirt and pants to get a red sleeveless shirt and white pants.
"Better... I definitely feel better." April said still looking at herself and putting her hands through her hair.
"So how was it being Faith?" Doyle asked coming behind her.
"Strange. I had a completely different person to work with inside my mind." April said. "It was like... Faith's brain waves were coming into my own CPU and I was trying to make sure I stayed in control. That I wouldn't totally become Faith."
"Well at least you were able to control the whole thing." Doyle said.
"That time I was." April said as she sat down on a chair. "You know I was going to be told a couple of days ago that I'd be talking to a ghost, which I am still having trouble processing to be true, and that I am not totally devoted to Warren and that I am not searching for him right now, I think I would have probably through them through a window."
Doyle looked up at her. "Sounds like you were programmed to be a love slave to the man."
"As I look back on it... it kinda was. He cared for me and helped me... up till the point where he got bored with me and decided to ditch me by leaving me in his dorm room for a couple of days." April muttered. "But you can't fault me. It was his fault. He programmed me that way. I had no other way of thinking or existing. My soul purpose was to please him and love him. Nothing more."
"And to have sex with him." Doyle added.
April sighed. "I feel so ... so used when ever I think of Warren now. He was my original creator. Cept I don't know exactly who created this body my AI is in now. It's a mystery."
"So you didn't take the time to find out?" Doyle asked.
"The whole ceiling of the lab was coming down not to mention I saw what had remained of my old body on a slab and a man dead so I pretty much freaked, took the car I found and drove off." April said. Then stopped. "Which I don't understand how I did that since one I don't know how to drive and two there were no keys. I just put my hand near the key slot and the damn car started."
"Well now might be a good time to figure out exactly what you can do lass." Doyle suggested.
April nodded as she closed her eyes and started accessing her data files. After a few minutes she opened them.
"Well?" Doyle asked.
"Some of the files in my head that were recently put in are triple encrypted and password protected. It's going to take time for me to decode those files." April said. "Though I do have some information about what my new upgrades are about."
Doyle just looked at her when she didn't continue. "... well don't just stand there lass start talking. You're keeping me all in suspense here!"
April giggled a little bit. "You're seeing one now. An emotion chip. Looks like the Host's little Star Trek reference was accurate. Before I could only simulate love and something like anger. Now I've got a full range of emotions. The same amount a normal person has."
"Well that's good. Least you are making a better use of emotions than Angel has as of late." Doyle said. "So what else is there?"
"My strength and speed capabilities have been greatly increased in comparison to what my old body could do." April explained. "Also my hard drive has been completely revamped and has got a lot more capacity than my old body ever did. My base personality and AI got updated with a lot of more usefull information. That's why I was able to drive that car. I can also drive any vehicle known to man and I start them up by putting my hand near the ignition. I kinda jump start them with my own power. I also can hack into any computer system on the planet via a phone jack or being on a regular computer by using my left hand."
"Woah..." Doyle muttered.
"My power supply has been expanded from 16 hours to 168 hours. Also this body is made of a remarkable metal that is classified but nothing has been known to break it. The skin covering my body can pass for real human flesh. There's blood inside the skin and if it gets cut it will look like a human cut. The skin also heals it self from any injuries it might get." She continued.
"Well that's good." Doyle said. "But I got one question... how the heck did you turn into a vampire slayer that is in prison?"
"Personality subroutines." April said.
Doyle cocked his head. "Come again?"
"The people that built this new body that my AI is in right now. They installed in several sub-directories of my memory personalities of other people." April said.
"You mean you got more than Faith in your head? Just how many other dames you got running around?" Doyle asked.
April then pulled out from the coat she had the Buffy and Faith masks.
"Both Slayers are in your head?!"
"You know Buffy?" April asked.
"I met her once. She and Angel were a couple once."
"Angel was her boyfriend? Why did they split up... wait how did a Slayer and a Vampire end up together as a couple to even begin with?" April restated her question.
"Long story and quite frankly it would take too much time." Doyle stated. "So is that all the personas you got?"
"Not quite. Got a few more. Willow Rosenberg, a Wicca. Kate Lockley, a police detective. Cordelia Chase, a Seer...
"You got Cordy in your head! Oh man now I don't believe that! You know..." Doyle started.
"You're interrupting me." April said.
"Sorry."
"Lilah Morgan..." April then stopped.
"What?" Doyle asked. "Sounds like you don't like that one?"
"Well she is a lawyer for Wolfram and Hart."
"Ouch." Doyle winced.
"Yeah but that pales in comparison to the last two I got..." April muttered. "Darla and Drucilla, psycho vamps who love to kill. God why did I have to get up loaded with those personas?"
"... I take the ouch back for Miss Morgan and say holy crap for the two others you have in your head." Doyle said feeling sorry for April. "Can't you just delete them from your memory or something?"
"Doesn't work that way I and I've been only online in this body for only a day." April said.
"Alright. So what happens now?" Doyle said as April took off her shirt. Her chest opened and she put the Buffy and Faith masks back in and then the chest closed and she put her shirt on.
"The masks get compacted for space and come out when the sub personality they belong to is activated. On top of that I can create all new personas based on information on people that I have." April said.
"Why the hell would you want to make other personas?" Doyle asked.
"Because I'm enjoying the time of playing other people. Sides I am going to need to get some other identities that I want. I don't want to impersonate someone that is already in existence for the rest of my online existence." April said.
"You know you talk techno babble one minute, then cheerleader talk the next and then you talk normally. You are a different girl April." Doyle said.
"I'm not a girl... I'm a robot. A girl robot." April said.
Doyle rolled his eyes. "Oh brother..."
"Well night Doyle." April said as she lied down.
"Wait a minute you are a robot. You don't need sleep." Doyle said.
"I'm going on a recharge break. I'll be in status mode for a bit. Night." April said as she went into status.
"April... April?" Doyle asked. "Eh. She did go to sleep." He then looked around. "So what's a ghost supposed to do for fun? Not sleep. That's for sure."
***
Friday
Anne came over to see April in the morning.
"Hey how are you?" Anne asked.
"I'm fine thank you." April said. "Thank for letting me last night. I saw the sign and the time and I was past your normal hours."
"It's fine. When I saw you looking they way you did, I just felt more compelled than anything else to go check on you." Anne replied. "You got any family April?"
"None." April said. "I don't have a mother and my father abandoned me. Guess you could say I've been just about own my own for as long as I can remember."
"You sound smart though and knowledgeable." Anne noted.
"Orphanages and foster care. Never lasted long. I never belonged in those places." April said.
"I see... you got some place now to go to?" Anne asked.
"Not yet... but I am thinking of looking up an new friend of mine." April smiled. "I'll see you later Anne."
April walked out the door of the Teen Center.
"Finally!" Doyle muttered to April as he walked to her when she reached a street. "Its noon and I've spent the better part of the day being bored out of my skull."
"If you really are a ghost technically you don't have a skull." April quipped.
"A robot making jokes at a ghost? What else is going to happen?" Doyle muttered.
"A lot. Like me getting a job." April said.
"A job? Oh yeah and exactly where are you going to go to get a job?" Doyle asked.
April smiled but it was a Cordelia like smile.
"Please don't do that. You are scaring me with that smile." Doyle pleaded.
"You'll see. First I need to go to the library." April said.
"Why?" Doyle asked.
"I want to learn some stuff that isn't in my head." April said. "That and watch Coyote Ugly one more time."
***
4:00 PM
The Host's Karaoke Club
"Argh!" The Host screamed as he looked at his latest bartender Luis. "I swear to the seven gods of my race and to your god. Were all of you absent the day they taught Sea Breeze at bartending school?"
"Look! If you don't like my work then shut up about it!" Luis said.
The Host looked angered. "Who do you think you are talking to? I'm the Host remember. I don't need a bartender that is going to give me lip. Tonight we are opening early. I know those employees of Wolfram and Hart are going to here because they want to know if they are going to live or die before the Review."
"I could care less. Sides I hate Sea Breezes." Luis said.
"Then maybe you should just not be a bartender."
The Host and Luis looked back at a woman with carrot red short hair, purple eyes, wearing a tight top and wearing red leather pants.
"Hey stay out of this kid." Luis said.
"Hey are you going to take this crap from your own employee for gods sake?" she said. "I mean you should fire him on the spot for not being able to make a good drink not to mention acting like a total jack off."
"Why you..." Luis rushed her but then she grabbed him by the shirt then lifted her up with one hand in the air.
"I think you need to be shown the door." She said as she threw Luis right out the door and on the street.
The Host looked on in amusement and surprise as he went to the door. "Oh Luis... you are fired!"
Luis, in shock over the strength of the 5'4" girl just ran like a bat out of hell and was trying to get the hell out of dodge.
"Nice work. Never had a bartender, man or woman that could do that. What's your name?" the Host asked.
"Call me May. But we've met the other night. We were discussing my problems." May said.
"Not to mention you saw me, which I am still trying to understand." Doyle said coming from behind her.
The Host, for one of the few times in his existence, was shocked. "... April?"
May just shrugged. "So what do you think? Not to bad huh?"
The Host just smiled. "Not bad. I like. Kinda trying to arouse the male population aren't you?"
May just looked at him. "... this isn't standard wear for a female bartender?"
"Well half the time yes and half the time no. Just depends on the bar." The Host said. "Where did you decide to dress like that?"
"She watched Coyote Ugly." Doyle said.
"And you think that is enough to be a bartender?" the Host asked. "God maybe I made mistake firing Luis."
"Will you relax. I spent a hour downloading all of the books on bartending and how to do certain drinks." May said going to the bar. "Let's see you wanted a Sea Breeze right." With in less than a minute she had the drink ready. "Here you go."
The Host looked cautiously at the drink and decided to take a sip before his eyes lit up and then took a normal drink. "I don't believe it! This has to be the best Sea Breeze that I have ever drunk in my entire life."
"So do I get the job?" May asked.
"Yeah of course you do!... but might I enquire why you want to be a bartender?" the Host asked.
"Oh this is just on the side. Right now I need a job, money for myself... and like you said tonight is that review for Wolfram and Hart." May said.
"Yeah that it is. Some of the lawyers from there are bound to show up that's why I am open early to day to allow..." the host stopped getting the point. "You aren't going to fight them are you?"
"No but if everything I've heard about Angel currently is true I know he is going to go fight them. It's too good of an opportunity to pass up to him." May said. "Someone has to try to get to him."
"Yeah but lass how in the hell are you going to get in there? You still haven't told me that part." Doyle said.
May smirked with a Buffy smile. "You'll see."
***
8:26 PM
Denver's Bookshop
Angel was clutching his side. The sword where Darla had impaled him the chest along with Denver. He felt a bit of remorse. The old man didn't deserve that fate Darla gave him; To die by impalement.
Another of the dark deeds I have to pay back to Wolfram and Hart. All because they took Darla's redemption from her. All of this happened. Angel thought.
Darla took the Glove of Light simply because it was the only way to kill the Kleynach. The reason was obvious.
"She knows about the ring." Angel muttered to himself. With the Band of Blacknil, she could get her way to the home office of Wolfram and Hart. She'd go for her chance at what ever power plan she had in mind.
"It's tonight... I don't know how she knew about the glove or I was coming here but I don't care." Angel said getting up. He then looked down at Denver, still dead. "... I'm sorry." Angel then exited the book store with only one purpose in mind.
I hope you bastards at Wolfram and Hart had a very good day with whoever you were screwing last... cause to night it all ends! Angel vowed as he got into his car and sped off to Wolfram and Hart.
***
9:15 PM
The Host's Karaoke Bar
"Hey babe I haven't see you around here before." One of May's costumers said.
"Well I just got in pal. First night working here. Your drink." May handed him his drink.
"I'll say this... you are just as good as Ramone was. All these other guys he's had here have sucked." The patron said.
"You know he's really telling the truth. None after Ramone could make a decent Sea Breeze." The Host said to Doyle at the table they were at.
"What is it with you and Sea Breeze?" Doyle asked.
"Favorite drink. What? Is it a crime to have a favorite drink?" the Host countered.
Doyle shrugged. "Not really."
"Scuse me for a sec." The Host said going over to May. "Well you really are becoming popular with the patrons. Really am going to hate it when you leave."
"Well I'm always available for the weekends." May said. "Nothing but boredom then."
"True... crap." The Host muttered.
"What?" May asked.
"I do believe I am seeing your look on the leaving female lawyer." The Host said.
"Yup."
"That means you are leaving now doesn't it." The Host added.
"Yup."
"... okay go on... just make sure you save someone okay." The Host said as May was leaving.
"Sure." May said as she followed the female lawyer to the back. She saw her near her car and then as she was putting the keys in May pinched her in the neck and she went unconscious. "Pressure points. Got to love them."
May then looked the woman over and started to undress the lawyer taking off her suit and shirt.
"Sorry but I need your clothes and your car." May replied to the unconscious woman. She then took off her shirt. "Personality change. File Lilah."
[Confirmed]
[Switching from May personality subroutine to Lilah personality subroutine.]
As May ripped off her head, her chest opened and the head of Lilah came out of it. She placed the May mask back inside her chest and it closed up. She then put the Lilah head over her own metal head and then her body started morphing into a duplicate of Lilah Morgan.
'Lilah' looked down at the woman and sneered. "Actually... I'm not sorry about this. Maybe I'll keep your car after this. It's a better model than my own." 'Lilah' then got dressed in the woman's suit but had some trouble. "Damn she's an inch shorter and she's bulimic. My ass is probably almost ready to burst out of this suit making me a prime subject for perverts. God why do they have to look at butts so much these days not to mention chests."
"April!" Doyle came to the car seeing 'Lilah'. "Oh hell you didn't!"
"Shut up you moron. So tell me is my ass showing in this? God maybe I should have taken my time selecting who I was going to knock out... course her car is a plus." 'Lilah' smirked.
"You aren't thinking of keeping it are you?" Doyle asked.
"... haven't really decided yet." 'Lilah' said as she got in and started the car.
"Hey April tell me you are still in there! I mean you are going to save Angel right?" Doyle shouted.
"Yeah so long as he doesn't try to kill me. You know what he did to Holland and the others. He left us to die that bastard." 'Lilah' said.
"April you are losing it here!" Doyle said in fear.
"I'm playing the character Doyle. Deal with it. In fact you are being such a pain right now..." She then revved the engine and mud went through Doyle but on the unconscious woman. "... get your own ride to Wolfram and Hart."
With that 'Lilah' left for Wolfram and Hart.
Doyle just stood there in shock. "... I got a very bad feeling about this."
***
10:00 PM
Wolfram and Hart
"Is there a problem?" Lindsay asked Nathan.
"Someone just a vampire on this floor." Nathan said.
"And add that to the list of things the Reviewer is going to look at when he gets here." Lindsay said. "I take you didn't find the Galatea?"
"Nonsense. The Senior Partners won't have me executed for that." Nathan said.
"You're lying." Lindsay smirked. "It will be good to see you sweat. Guess Hell wants you now." Lindsay said.
Nathan looked back on Lindsay in anger. "At least I won't go alone if they do kill me this night."
"Right old man." Lindsay smirked.
It dropped when he saw Angel with Lilah.
"Angel!" Lindsay shouted.
Angel looked up and that was all the time Lilah needed to hit Angel in the area where Darla had stabbed him earlier in the evening. Angel starts moving out.
"Security!" Nathan shouted out and security went out the door to follow him.
Only thing is Angel doubled back without anyone seeing him. He was scanning the room when he saw a woman with black hair and a red dress. He pulled out a vile of holy water and then pulled the wig of her and then through holy water in her face.
"Vampire!" Angel shouted as everyone looked at Darla, who was now in her game face because of the holy water. He makes a go for the Glove but she hits him.
"Curse you Angelus!" Darla fought back as the security guards came in the room. It soon turned into a fight between Angel, Darla and the security guards.
Then at the center of the room on the pentagram the Kleynach demon appeared. Nathan was on his knees.
"What is the meaning of this!" the Senior Partner shouted as he surveyed the fight.
"Forgive us sir but..." Nathan started.
"He sent security over the wrong person and lost the Galatea." Lindsay said out loud.
"You bastard!" Nathan shot at him.
The Kleynach's eyes burned. "You fool! Everyone is now at risk! Nathan Reed, you are the first to be reviewed!"
"No no please!" Nathan shouted right before the Kleynach grabbed him and then Nathan was incinerated into ash.
Meanwhile Angel had just gotten the upper hand and gotten the glove away from Darla he was now running for the Kleynach. Darla on the other hand was about to be staked.
"Kill the bitch now!" Lilah shouted... right before Lindsay punched her across the jaw.
"Kleynach!" Angel shouted as he leaped at the demon.
"Wha..." the senior partner cried as Angel grabbed him by the throat with the Glove. "NOOOOOO!!!"
The momentum carried Angel and the Kleynach demon through the window and during the fall the Kleynach was destroyed.
Still inside the building Lindsay kicked off the security guards and saved Darla.
"Get out of here now." Lindsay said to the surprised Darla.
"Why?" Darla asked.
"I told you before... I wouldn't abandon you." Lindsay said.
Darla just stared at Lindsay a little more and then just ran. Lindsay turned around and looked at Lilah who was pissed.
I'll never forgive you for this Lindsay. This far from over. Lilah vowed.
***
"AHHH!!" Angel cried when he bottom. Falling down from that many floors is not a good thing. He struggled to get up and then found the ring. "yes..." He then got up and then put on the ring. Thanks for getting me to this point Denver. "Okay... home office. It's time to end this."
Just then Angel heard an elevator sound and then it opened. He then heard clapping.
When Angel looked inside he couldn't believe who it was.
"Congratulations. Great victory. No creature of this world has ever killed one of the senior partners. You should feel proud." He said.
Angel looked on. "You can't be..."
"Yes I am... just dead. Home office right?" he said.
That got Angel's attention. "Yes."
"Then come on in." the man said. "I should warn you though it is a one way trip."
"I don't care." Angel said as he walked in.
The doors shut and then the elevator went down.
***
'Lilah' pulled up to the security gate and waved at the guard.
"Miss Morgan? I didn't see you leave before... what happened to you car?" he asked.
"Yes well I lost my car keys and I had a friend who was leaving from the office loan me her car after I drover her home got my spare keys and came back to get my car." 'Lilah said.
"Not a problem. Go right in." he said opening the gate.
"Thank you." 'Lilah' said driving in. She parked the car and headed out to the front of the building where she then heard and elevator open. "An elevator outside?"
She turned around just for Angel to pass right by her. It was for a moment but she saw into his eyes and all the fire, all the power she had known he had was gone. As if it had been snuffed out.
He didn't even notice 'Lilah'. He just kept walking dejectedly.
"My god... what the hell happened to him?" 'Lilah' said.
She was about to go after him when.
"Behind you!"
"Doyle?" 'Lilah' saw him in a distance but then she turned around and saw two green horned demons grab her by the arms. "No! Let go of me don't you know who I am you green freaks!"
"Oh they do. That's why they are grabbing you."
'Lilah' looked inside the elevtor and paled.
"... it can't be..." 'Lilah' muttered. "You can't be..."
"Holland Manners." He smiled. "Yes I am... I'm just dead. Unfortunately my contract with Wolfram and Hart goes a lot deeper. Zyran, Tork, please escort Galatea in the elevator please."
"Get your damn hands off me before you break something important you morons." 'Lilah' sneered as she was brought in the elevator.
"Oh hell no!" Doyle said running for it.
"I must say your impression of Lilah is right to the T. Personality replication is perfect. Just like we planned." Holland said. "Of course things go astray so we must now go some place to clean up the mess."
"And exactly where are we going Holland?" 'Lilah' rolled her eyes.
"My current office." Holland said.
"The home office." 'Lilah' said.
"No." Holland said closing the doors. "Hell."
'Lilah' paled completely as the doors closed leaving the last thing
she saw out side was Doyle running to them but the doors were shut.
To be continued...