Greetings and Salutations. This is the next chapter. Review (preferably with ideas)!
Spike watched form the shadows. She could smell the wolf on Red? Since when? There was definitely something new here, but that didn't matter. Soon as he had the Gem of Amara, it wouldn't matter how much power the Slayer now had. She'd be dead meat. Maybe he'd even turn her. Power she had now…yeah. He could just imagine it. The bloody swathe they'd cut across America…hell, the entire world…
"Hiding in the shadows?" He turned to see a man, dressed in a black suit, standing there. "No surprise, though you look like you could use suntan. Here, let me help with that." He held a hand out and released a beam of energy, sending Spike flying into the sunlight. The now smoking vampire jumped down the nearest. What the hell was going on? Did everyone in this bloody town have super powers?
The mutant looked at the house. That's where she lived. His hand brushed the device under his coat. He'd deliver her, collared, to Mr Ekhart. Maybe he'd even have some fun with her en route. With the inhibitor on, she wouldn't have a choice. He grinned. Yeah, this job had some perks.
Buffy walked in to Giles' apartment. "Sorry I'm late." She said. "I had some…things me and mom had to talk about." She didn't like lying to them, but she didn't know how they would handle it. She had told her mom because…well, actually, she didn't know why she told her. Willow knew because she needed someone to talk to about it. Angel knew because Willow told him, but Buffy had to admit, she was glad he knew. She still wasn't sure why Shalimar seemed so damn familiar.
"That's alright." Giles said. "I, um…well I have some rather interesting information. It seems that someone else has been fighting the demons around Sunnydale lately."
"Someone else?" Oz asked as Willow made her way over to him. "What, another Slayer?"
"Well, um, not that I know." Giles said. "But I talked to Willy. Whoever they are has every demon and mystically inclined being in Sunnydale ducking for cover."
"I'll keep a look out tonight, see if I can spot something." Buffy said. Since her powers weren't mystical in nature, she might be able to stay below their radar. Shalimar and friends could probably help too. "I'll talk to Angel, see if he's seen anything." Giles nodded, a bit apprehensive. "Relax Giles. We're keeping at arms length. Nothing's going to happen." Nothing could ever happen, she thought. "Besides, this might have something to do with…whatever it was Whistler warned him about."
"Well, I suppose." He said. "But just be careful."
"Always." Buffy said with a smile.
He made his way carefully through the park. The target was just up ahead, hunting some of Sunnydale's nocturnal residents. The mutant shook his head. Vampires. How could people miss that? That explained the number of graveyards. Not that it mattered. All he had to do was grab the girl and…
He ducked behind a tree as a group of commandoes snuck past him, dragging a vampire behind them. He stroked his chin. Maybe he could use this. He walked up to them, readying his credentials. Yes, much better.
Buffy moved silently through the cemetery. She thought about the commandoes that Giles had been talking about and hoped that they weren't connected to the GSA. She shook her head at the thought. From what she could figure from the usual connections, they'd been around for a while and hadn't done anything other than hunt demons. So they wouldn't try for her or the others, right?
She felt more the heard (or smelt) Shalimar's presence to her right. That was her other mystery. Why did the other feral seem so familiar? It was like they were supposed to work together, or at least meet. But why?
"We told them the operation was experimental." The albino said. "Still, they may talk. We have to do something."
"Well, what about the twins?" The other said. "We swap them and no ones the wiser. It gives us a chance see if there is any kind of link between twin mutants like there seems to be."
The scene from her dream played in her mind. Could that be it? Could the dream actually be her own past like she thought? Could she be one of the girls and, more to the point, could Shalimar be her lost twin?
"Hold it!" Buffy spun and came face to face with the commandoes and a man in a suit. " GSA. Your under arrest." Suit said. "I'm authorised to take you in for proper training in your abilities."
"What makes you think I need it?" She quipped. "I've been defending this town from vampires longer than your army buds have been in khaki."
"Maybe, but you don't have a choice in the matter." Suit said. "You're coming with me." Buffy dropped down to a fighting stance, her eyes glowing yellow cats eyes for a moment.
"You want me, big boy?" Buffy said, a dangerous grin on her face. "Come and get me." One of the commandoes fired his tazer at her. Buffy leapt to one side, propelled herself off a tree and took him down with a vicious kick. She lashed out with her fists, taking two more down, following up with a round house kick, flooring three more. She leapt up on a tree branch and looked down at her attackers. "That's it? This is the best the GSA can send after me? You're kidding, right?"
"They have nothing to do with us." Suit said. "I merely requested assistance from then."
"GSA creds go a long way, huh?" Buffy sneered. "Well, I'm not impressed. All I see is another Big Bad wannabe who can't do his own dirty work." Suit glared at her.
"Very well then." He held his hand out and released a beam of energy.
"Predictable." Buffy said, launching over the blast and landing behind him. She jammed her foot in his back, knocking him to the ground. He got to his feet, a strange device in his hands. "Ohh, you brought me a toy. How sweet." She launched forward again, knocking the device out of his hand.
"You'll pay for that." He said.
"I suggest you re think that." Angel said, running towards them, Shalimar not far behind. Suit look at the three of them.
"We'll meet again." He said, turning and running.
"Counting on it." Buffy said, picking the device up and handing it to Shalimar. Any idea what it is?"
"This is how they put the subdermal inhibitors on any new mutants they capture." She said. "Any time they try to use their powers, they experience extreme pain. If they disobey orders, they cop the same." Buffy looked at the object. Angel seethed. They were trying to put one of these…things on his Buffy? He would not let that happen.
"Talk about creepy." Buffy muttered. Walking over to the soldier guys. "Listen very carefully, 'cause I'm only saying this once. Stick to hunting demons. I hear you guys team with the GSA again, I find you and shut you down. Oh," She added, pointing at Angel. "he's off limits. Touch him, I rip your head off." No one will hurt my mate. Damn, there I go again. What's with that? "Leave." The commandoes moved off in a hurry. Buffy got a whiff of one of them. She grinned. At least she could track the guy now.
Review. And give me ideas.
Stay tuned.
Doc.
