Greetings and Salutations. New chapter full of confrontations and revelations. Hold on tight, things are about to get bumpy.
Riley Finn looked through the stacks. He had a lot on his mind. The things at that point were the classes that were starting soon. The other thing was that new mutant the GSA had asked his squads assistance to capture. She didn't seem dangerous, unless you take into account that she managed to take out his entire squad without breaking a sweat. The there was that hostile sub-terrestrial that she had warned them away from. Maybe she didn't know he was a HST, but not likely. He bent over to get a book from a lower shelf, and was hit in the head by a falling book. "Ow." He grunted, straitening up. Then he came face to face with the last person he expected to see.
"Oh, my god, I'm so sorry." She said quickly. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I think so." He said, trying to think through this. It was her, the new mutant. What were the odds? Pretty good, obviously, he thought as they talked. Actually, her red headed friend did a lot of the talking. The mutant merely stood there, looking like she was trying to understand the conversation. Riley noticed her nostrils flare. Before they left, she leant up to his ear.
"I know who you are, soldier boy." She whispered. "I can find you anywhere you hide. Remember my warnings from last night." With that she walked off. This was not good. Not only did she know who he was, she was in the Psych class he was helping Professor Walsh with. He moved to the professor's office. He had to tell her of this new development. Maybe they should stop assisting the GSA, and stay away from that HST. He doubted he could convince her of that second one, but he would certainly try. He did not want to be the one she took her frustrations out on if she found him missing.
"Watch it!" Buffy yelled as electricity arced around her. Brannon grinned as electricity streamed from his fingers.
"Is it me, or is he enjoying that far too much?" Jesse muttered. Shalimar stiffened as she watched.
"He better ease up, or so help me…" She muttered. She could feel Buffy's frustration, and wondered if it was a two way street. If it was, the girl was keeping it quiet.
Buffy grinned at the feelings coming through her connection with Shalimar. She, also, wondered if it was a two way street. She looked at Brannon. "Alright, sparky." She yelled. "Play time is over." She ran towards him, dodging to the side as the electricity arced towards her. She ran up the wall, keeping her eyes on him at all times. As Brannon moved to hit her, she leapt off the wall, coming down beside him. She hit him with a round kick before he could act, and then leapt on him as he fell to the ground. "You give up yet, sparky?"
"I wish you wouldn't call me that." He said.
"But it suits you." She said with a grin. Adam laughed from where he stood. Angel merely shook his head.
"You'll never change." The souled vampire said.
"Why would I want to?" Buffy said with a shrug. She looked at Adam. "So, how'd I do, coach?" She asked him.
"Well, the last five years of patrol haven't done you any harm." He said. "You took in the situation and acted decisively."
"This is the Hellmouth, Mr. X." She told him levelly. "A mistake here means someone dies. You have to be able to think on your feet."
"Yes, well your training with Shalimar over the last couple of days has helped to." He said. "I doubt you would have tried that manoeuvre before."
"Huh?" Buffy looked at him strangely. Training?
"I haven't had time, Adam." Shalimar informed him. "She came up with that on her own." Buffy shrugged.
"Let's chalk it up to instinct." Like these psycho thoughts concerning Angel. She really wanted to get those straightened out.
"Maybe." Adam said. He glanced at Shalimar. She had told him that she seemed to have the ability to sense the girl. He wondered how much went down the link.
"Alright, that's it." Buffy said. "You know something I don't. Start talking, or I start walking."
"Buffy…" Angel moved over to her.
"Not this time, Angel." She said. "I've run their gauntlets, kept their secrets, now I want some answers." Angel sighed, and then nodded. There was no way he could calm her down, not this time. He just hoped that whatever secret Adam had was worth Buffy's anger.
"Alright." Adam said. "I suppose we should have told you sooner." Shalimar stepped forward. Buffy could sense worry and wondered if she was about to hear what she thought she was about to hear.
"We're sisters." Shalimar said. Buffy nodded. "You don't seem surprised."
"I suspected." Buffy said. "Aside from the whole 'I sense you, you sense me' thing, I had a dream." She explained what she had seen.
"Ekhart." Adam said. "It matches what's in the file." Buffy turned.
"I'm gonna head back." She said. "I'll see you later." They watched her walk off.
"I'm going after her." Shalimar said. "I've got to make it right."
"Shalimar, don't force her." Angel said. "She's one of the strongest willed people I've ever met." Shalimar looked back and grinned at him.
"So am I." She said and went after her sister.
Buffy stormed through the park. She couldn't believe this. She knew! Shalimar had known the entire time and she hadn't told her! She was so peeved she almost didn't feel Shalimar coming toward her. "Yes? Something else you didn't tell me?"
"I guess I deserved that." Shalimar said. She moved up beside her. "Buffy, I was going to tell you, but…"
"Wait, let me guess. 'Your criminals and you didn't want to get me involved in that life'?" Buffy said angrily, spinning to face her sister. "Sorry to tell you this, but I'm involved."
"Buffy…"
"No, Shalimar! No more." Buffy turned, trying to hide her tears. This was her sister; she should be able to trust her. But if she could keep that a secret, what else might she not be telling her. "I can't take it anymore. We're sisters, Shalimar. Pack. We should be able to trust each other, but I can't trust you if you can keep secrets like that."
"Buffy, I…" Shalimar stopped. What did Buffy say? "Did you just say we're pack?"
"Don't…" Buffy stopped, realizing Shalimar was right. "God, not again." She muttered. "It's bad enough it happens in my head, now it spills out of my mouth. What's wrong with me?" Shalimar put a hand on her shoulder.
"Buffy?" She turned her around. "Buffy, what…
"Words, feelings for people given names that don't belong." She turned to look at her, tears in her eyes. "What's happening to me? Am I loosing myself? Am I turning into an animal?"
"Buffy, its okay." Shalimar assured her. "That's just your instincts being given thought, that's all. How you relate to or feel about them. So, where I'm concerned, your instincts tell you I'm pack." Buffy nodded. So it was her instincts that were telling her about Angel, based on what she felt for him. That made sense.
"I just wish they'd shut up." She muttered.
"You'll get used to it." Shalimar said. "I meant to tell you. I was just worried about how you'd react." Buffy grinned sheepishly.
"Guess I confirmed your fears, huh?" She said. Shalimar shrugged.
"Don't worry about it." She said. "I understand. But I have one question; when were you going to tell me you knew?"
"I only suspected." Buffy said defensively. "I wasn't sure." Shalimar laughed.
"Don't sweat it." She said. "So, forgiven?" Buffy hugged her sister. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Well isn't this sweet?" Four vamps walked out of the shadows, game faces in place.
"That is a lot of ugly." Buffy quipped.
"You said." Shalimar looked at her. "Shall we?" Buffy grinned. Looks like Slayage ran in the family.
"Let's." Two sets of eyes went cat yellow and the sisters charged forward.
Ouch! Now those two are on the same page, someone's going to have their rears handed to them. Plus Buffy knows about Riley. How long will The Initiative stay off her back? What does the GSA have planned? And how the hell do I write Veruca into all this???
Stay tuned.
Doc.
