"Try once more," Giles commanded to Dawn as she attacked Kennedy from behind. Annabel and Molly were paired off beside them, mimicking the maneuvers Giles had just shown them with the swords. "No. No, Dawn. Block her move then counter attack. Don't be afraid of the sword, child. You are in control of it, not the other way around."
"I'm sorry Giles. I'm just so afraid I'm going to hurt her or something."
Kennedy scoffed at the notion. "Puh-lez little girl. I am so older and stronger than you."
Dawn got that look in her eyes and attacked full force. Kennedy blocked the cuts with much struggle, as Dawn picked up the pace. Coming at her until Kennedy's back was to the wall and their swords made an "x" just before her face, Dawn leaned in with a cocky grin. "Had enough?"
"Dawn Summers, that is exactly what I am talking about. Being the slayer is not about who's better or stronger, it's about who has better control over their power. Honestly, you are all acting like children about the entire matter."
"Sorry Giles. I got a little carried away." Dawn apologized. She turned to Kennedy once more and released her, not failing to stick out her tongue at the girl first.
"Giles! Come quick! Looks like Will's got something!" Xander shouted from the dining room. The slayers and the watcher scurried into the room to find Willow, Xander, Anya, and a still bounded Andrew seated at the table. A small orb floated above the wooden platform and the room was filled with an eerie yellow glow. An image of Spike appeared in the orb, trodden and bloody. He was sitting against a wall in a very dark room. The walls seemed to be made of mud or dirt, most likely below ground by the signs of roots jutting randomly from the barricade. He was humming something quietly and seemed to be caring for something below him.
"Expand," Willow commanded powerfully and the orb doubled in size. All inhaled at the sight before them. There lay Buffy, still quite black and blue, in the lap of her once mortal enemy. Spike carefully caressed her hair, no doubt trying to put her at ease, as he continued to hum a soft melody.
"Spike," Willow spoke. The blond jumped at the sound that echoed through his brain.
"Red? Red, s'that you?" he asked as he looked around the cavern for the source of the voice.
"Yes, Spike. It's me. Are you two okay? Where are you?" she questioned quickly.
"We're still alive, or at least she is. She's hurt pretty bad Willow. I've never seen her in such shape. I think she may be bleedin' internally. And where the bloody hell are you? I can't see you anywhere!"
"I'm at Buffy's. Remember how I used to communicate telepathically?" the vampire nodded his head, "Well, it's time we started working on that again." She explained. "We need to know where you are so we can come and get you."
"Dunno for sure. Somewhere down below. Cemetery maybe. Place reeks of death and decay. How do you plan to save us though? This thing's too powerful for you Scoobies to take on your own."
"We know. We need to come up with a plan, and fast. Has she come to at all, or has she been passed out since you found her?"
"They brought her to me. She woke up about five hours ago or so. Can't tell how long it's been down here. She was out a good eight before she came to. She opened her eyes and talked a bit. Seemed to have her wits about her, so I'm not too worried anymore. What the hell happened to her anyway Red?"
"We were ambushed. She was leading us out to rescue you and was attacked at the front door. It was really old and ugly looking vamp. Kinda looked like the Master, only it didn't seem to be able to talk."
"Tell him I think it was a Turok-han," Giles interrupted.
"Spike. Giles said to tell you that he thinks it was a trochee." If the dead man could have blanched anymore, he would have.
"Are you sure Watcher?" he whispered. Giles nodded his head.
"He's sure."
"Bloody hell," Spike cried as he threw his head back against the wall. The sudden movement and noise woke the sleeping beauty and she began to stir.
"Spike…. Spike…" she called out, frantically searching for his hand once more.
The vampire shushed her sweetly. "S'all right Pet. I'm here," he comforted.
"Protect me," she pleaded. The hearts of all the Scoobies fell at the sight of their hero so weak. They wished they could protect her as well.
"Always, Buffy. Always," he said as he began to rub small circles on the back of her hand. She drew closer to his chest and breathed deeply.
"Don't let that thing near me again. I can't fight him. He can't die."
"Sure he can, Buffy. All nasties have a weakness. We'll find it, Love. No worries."
Willow's heart ached at the picture before her, but she needed to know what had happened. "Buffy?"
"Will?" the slayer asked as she quickly sat up and began to look around. "Willow? Where are you?" she looked about anxiously.
"Buffy, I'm at your house. We're all here. I've been working on a locating spell for hours now. It didn't work until a few minutes ago, though. Are you okay, sweetie? You look like you're in so much pain."
"Actually," she said sitting up straight as Spike helped her move so she could lean against the wall, "I feel better now. I'm nowhere near one hundred percent, but at least the pain is bearable now." She grimaced as she tried to rotate her broken arm. Spike quickly positioned himself so that he could massage it and she gave him a look of gratitude. "What was that thing Will? He looked like the Master's long-lost cousin or something."
"Uh, Giles said it's called a Turok-han."
"A Turok-huh?" Buffy questioned.
"A Turok-han, Ducks. It's the very first of all vampires, the one the rest of us fear. It's stronger, faster, and harder to kill than any of our kind. Thought they were legends until now." Spike informed.
"They?" Buffy and Willow asked at the same moment.
"Yes, they. Supposedly there was an entire army of them when evil was first created. Story goes that there are only three left in existence, but that they are buried at the most evil and powerful spot on the face of the earth."
"Kinda like the Hellmouth?" Buffy scoffed.
"Apparently. What ISN'T buried here?" Spike added.
Giles spoke to the group. "It was as I feared. Spike just confirmed all of my doubts. There are at least two more of those creatures out there and we have to find a way to immobilize them somehow." He turned to Willow, "Ask Spike if he's ever heard what their weakness is. That is to say, how do we kill it?"
"Spike," Willow asked, "Giles wants to know if you have any idea how to bring those guys down."
"Well, your run-of-the-mill stake won't work," he explained.
"Duh?" Buffy stated. "Now you tell me."
Spike rolled his swollen eyes. "Legend has it that since they were the original creatures of the night, the only way to destroy them is with sunlight."
"As I suspected," Giles confirmed as he walked back into the living room to retrieve a book.
"So sunshine equals nice and dusty," Buffy said to herself aloud. "That shouldn't be impossible," she added sarcastically.
"We'll find a way," Spike comforted.
"How's Dawn?" Buffy asked as she began to rotate her swollen jaw.
"She's fine. So are the other slayers. They've been training with Giles while Xander and Anya helped me with the location spell." Willow answered.
"Other slayers?" Spike questioned.
"Yup, there's three of them at my house right now. They're slayers in training. It seems that Dawn is a slayer too. I'll explain it all later," Buffy said.
"Bloody hell! You mean there are more of you? And the Nibblet's one too? No way! She is not becoming a slayer! I won't let her get hurt."
"Been through the entire range of emotions on that one Spike," Buffy laughed.
"We have no choice. Besides, she can handle it. It's in her blood." Dawn smiled at the faith her sister showed in her.
"Damn right she can. That girl is down right frightening. Not to mention she's got the moves and the strength for it," Spike agreed as Dawn's smile threatened to spread right off of her face. "Only she's not gonna, because I won't let her."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" the Summers girls said in unison.
"Nibblet's not becoming a slayer because "a" I said so, "b" that would mean you would have to die and there's no way in hell I'm letting that happen, and "c" because I swore to protect her with my life and that means that she is not getting hurt."
"For once I agree with Dead Boy Junior," Xander added.
"Buffy," Willow broke in, "We need to get to you soon. You two can't stay down there."
"We're fine, Will. Stay where you are. Start training the girls hardcore, especially with the swords…"
"I already knew that," Giles added.
"because I have a feeling the four of us will have to take on those Trochee-ma-bobbers and they need to have "A+'s" in the art of beheading. It may not kill them, but let's see what they can do without those ugly q-balls. The rest of you keep researching. We need to know exactly what needs to be done to kill the First. Spike and I will get out on our own."
"But Buffy, don't you think…"
"Willow, we'll be okay. We'll rest here for a little while and try and get some strength back, and then we'll break out. The First won't mess with us now that he knows we are his prisoners, so that will give us plenty of time to recuperate."
"How hard did she get kicked in the head?" Xander questioned.
"Buffy, are you sure?" Willow asked.
"Yes, Will. I'm positive. We're peachy with a side of keen. I'm already feeling better now that I've gotten some sleep, and I can feel my wounds closing up." She turned to Spike, "You don't look as nasty either."
"Thanks ever-so for the compliment, Love." He joked.
"See, guys. We'll be fine. The two of us can break out of here on our own. Can you all take care of everything else?" she asked.
"Sure, Buffy. We'll do the best we can until you get back. I still don't like leaving you there."
"No worries. The First is just letting us feel each other out."
"Hey! She doesn't need to be making 'feelys' with Spike's anything!" Xander yelled.
"Spike heard him say something about trying to turn us against each other," Buffy continued. "You guys have nothing to worry about. We're strong. So we'll see you in a day. Okay?"
"If that's what you think is right, Buffy. We'll keep in contact just like this, alright? The crystal I used for the spell will stay enchanted until you two are home and safe, so if you need anything, just call out for me."
"Thanks, Will. Tell everyone I love them. And tell Dawn I'll be home soon." And with that, the vision disappeared. Everyone stared at each other in disbelief.
"Giles, we can't just leave them there," Willow admitted.
"It seem that we must," he replied. "Buffy is in charge and those are her orders. I honestly feel that the two of them can take care of each other for the time being. And for now my concern of keeping us all alive to fight isn't a priority since we won't be invading the First's lair anytime soon. I think she may be right. They can rest, and we can prepare. At least now we know that she's safe and that Spike hasn't been killed."
"Big 'Yay!' on that one," Xander said sarcastically.
"He's protecting her Xander. We should be thankful," Dawn argued.
"Very well then," Giles stated, "let's get started."
"You sure you don't want them to come and get us, Pet?" Spike asked.
"Of course I do. But do you really think they can take on the First and the Bringers?"
"Absolutely not."
"Exactly. So in the end I guess it's better us than them. Right?"
"Quite! I won't have such talk! We'll make it out of here. You'll see. We've been to the end of the world and back together, we can make it out of this muddy hole."
"I really hope you're right Spike. I don't want it to end like this," she sighed as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Believe me Buffy, it'll take a hell of a lot more than this to finish us off. We're not going without a fight, ya know? Besides," he laid his head on hers, "there's something good waiting for us at the end of all this. I can feel it. We're meant to have a happy ending. All of us," he quickly added.
"Here's hoping…."