Chapter Two: Brave Strangers
The four reality displaced individuals, three mutants and one witch stare at the vampire lying on the stone floor of the cavern. Kurt from the vantage point a few feet above the ground as he clings to the wall, Ororo just to the right side of his feet, Amanda at his waist with a foot or so between her and the taller woman, and Illyana at his left shoulder.
Spike looks around at his audience with amusement. This wasn't the first time the First had made him believe he was being rescued. Though normally it was Buffy coming to save him, or him managing to break loose all on his own. It had never tried using four people he had never seen before as his rescuers. It also had never left him lying on the floor either.
"He was dead," Kurt informs everyone from his spot on the wall.
Illyana smirks lightly as she looks up at the furry X-Man. "He still is," she tells him. "He's some kind of demon," the blonde says with a frown as she looks back down at Spike. "Only, he's got a human soul."
Amanda looks up at the younger girl with shock. "How?" She asks having never heard of anything like this before.
"I don't know," Illyana answers with a shrug.
"I won it," Spike snarls getting tired of people talking about him instead of talking to him. "Went out, fought for and won my soul back," he tells them sounding somewhere between proud and miserable.
Amanda moves back and around as Ororo takes a couple of steps forward and squats down at his waist. Spike frowns at the leather wearing, mocha skinned woman with the white mohawk as she speaks. He had thought her voice would be rough, with a punk edge to it, but her accent was crisp and clear with a lot of polish. "I should probably be asking what you are? Or possibly who you are? But I have the feeling it would behoove us all to leave this cavern as quickly as possible so if there is someplace you could suggest us taking shelter at we would be greatly indebted to you."
This was another first for the blonde vampire. Someone he just met not being terrified of him, actually asking his opinion. He can't help but smile at that. "Slayer's house," he answers her.
"That really doesn't help us," Illyana mutters.
"Thank you," Ororo says to Spike.
Spike's gaze shifts to the young blonde standing at his shoulder. He thought the girl was younger then Dawn but there was a darkness inside her that she just barely keeps locked away. She was the one that had known about his soul, was able to see it, or feel it. He didn't know which, just that she knew it was there.
The only other person that had been able to do that had been Anya while she had been a vengeance demon. He wonders if that is the darkness that he senses inside her. If she herself is some kind of demon struggling against her own dark nature.
"It's okay," Amanda says to the young girl. "A guiding should show us the way."
"Do you know how?" Kurt asks hopping off the wall to land at her side.
Amanda nods as she says, "mother showed me how when I was young. Just in case I ever lost my way."
"What I'm worried about is heading into the liar of something referred to as the slayer," Kurt tells Ororo voicing his opinion.
"Do you have another option?" Ororo asks locking eyes with her long time teammate and until her return from Africa the X-Men's field leader.
Kurt shakes his head slightly. "Doesn't mean I have to like the axiom the potential enemy of my enemy is my potential friend."
"Her name's Buffy," Spike tells them. "Slayer's just her tittle. As in vampire slayer, one girl, chosen to stand against all the forces of darkness. To stem the flood of evil into the world, though if you ask me the bint's doing a piss poor job of it lately."
"And you would be?" Ororo inquires.
"The one that keeps getting away," Spike replies. "Former arch nemesis turned alley turned..." He trails off weakly implying more then he meant to. More that these extremely intelligent and perceptive people pick up on quite easily. "By the way, name's Spike," he says forcefully drawing their attention away from his blunder.
Ororo smiles at his clumsy attempt to move the conversation along. "I am Ororo, my blue furred companion is Kurt Wagner. His lady Amanda Soften, and the child is Illyana Rasputin," she says introducing herself and her companions.
Rhane grimaces slightly as Dawn rubs the antiseptic into the wounds on the soles of her feet. "Sorry," Dawn murmurs.
The young red head shakes her head saying, "its not your fault."
"Well actually it is," Anya remarks as she carriers a pitcher of water upstairs without any further explanation.
The Irish girl watches the older woman as she ascends the stairs with curiosity. "Don't worry about Anya. She can be a little strange at times," Dawn informs her.
"I had not noticed," Rhane tells the brunette with a slight smile.
Dawn returns the smile as she begins wrapping the foot. "You're from Ireland right?"
"Is it that obvious?"
"My sister dated a guy from Ireland. Once... twice, but he didn't have the accent," Dawn explains.
"Then he must've either been away from his home for a very long time, or he had worked very hard to leave his roots behind him," Rhane answers sadly.
Dawn nods as she says, "I think its a little bit of both. Lot of bad memories."
Sensing Dawn's pain over the subject Rhane decides to change the topic of conversation. "You're very good at cleaning wounds," she compliments her.
Dawn shrugs saying, "when your sister's the slayer then you tend to learn these things."
The front door swings open, "manufacture pure sunlight." Giles voice echoes into the house just as he steps through the doorway.
Forge steps in behind him. The tall, lean Native American smiles slightly as he replies, "its a simple matter of mixing specific levels of the proper radations together, then filtering out any impurities and focusing it at the proper spectrum."
"And you just happen to know how to do all these things?" Giles inquires sarcastically.
"No," Forge admits, "I just happen to be able to build what I need when I need it." He spots Dawn in the pallor bandaging Rhane's feet. Brushing past Giles he asks, "what happened?"
"Comic books?" Kitty questions Xander skeptically.
The construction worker nods emphatically. "I've been reading them since before I knew how to read, well, okay. Willow use to read them to me back then, but I got them all. Hulk, Super-Man, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Justice League, Avengers, X-Men, X-Factor, Aqua-Man, Wolverine. I've read them all, got most off them."
Kitty shakes her head as she says, "this's just disturbing."
"Five guys with swords, you have to fight defensively," Buffy tells Logan.
"If you wanna be chopped into little bits then yeah, defensive is just the way to go," Logan disagrees playfully.
"Going offensive is just going to get you killed. Defensive you're in control."
Logan grins wolfishly as he responds saying, "we all have to work within our limitations."
"Or just not be smart enough to realize when something isn't working right," Buffy quips back lightly a moment before she heads up the stairs.
Molly closes the door as a very chagrin Annabelle walks past with her head hung low.
Logan gives a quick shake of his head moving into the pallor. Either way would work, the way that was chosen was more a reflection on personality. Because of his healing factor he could afford to play things a little looser when it came to combat. Made him more aggressively orientated. "How you doing kiddo?" He asks Rhane as he squats down next to her.
"I do not think I'll be running any races for the next few days," she replies.
"Kitty and Rupert went upstairs to check on Rogue and the other young girl," Forge tells Logan.
"Her name's Kennedy," Dawn informs the two men.
"The brunette followed them up as well," he adds as an after thought.
"His name is Xander," Dawn pipes up again plainly annoyed with the native American.
"And this is Dawn..." Rhane begins.
Logan nods as he glances at the brunette, his nostrils flaring slightly. "Buffy's kid sister right?" He asks cutting Rhane off.
The two feral mutants share a look, almost as if they're communicating silently with each other. "Okay. That's kind of freaky," Dawn says breaking the silence that seems to have settle over the room. She had the distinct feeling that she was the center of their private conversation. "You guys can see the real me can't you?"
"While I'm in my wolf form there is an almost green like mist that hangs about your body, but now you look like any other young girl," Rhane admits trying hard to make her voice soothing. The last thing she wants to do is hurt this kind girl.
"Your scent has a little something extra to it compared to most humans, then again so doesn't your sister. Even the two girls, Annabelle and Molly," Logan tells her.
Dawn's face pales at Rhane's and Logan's words. After Glory she thought that part of her life was over and all her hopes were for just being a normal girl whose sister just happens to be the slayer and they just happen to live on the hellmouth. Now these two come along and tell her it's still there. That she's still a freak.
"What the hell is going on?" Buffy demands seeing her sister's fear laced features. She hadn't seen that kind of abject terror marring Dawn's face since the days when Glory had been gunning for her. Like a lock clicking into place the pieces fall together. Rhane was a werewolf, Logan had senses superior to any animal known, according to the world of Xander.
Then Dawn confirms her worst fear as she says, "they know I'm still the key."
Angel was free to search for Gunn and Wesley now that he had gotten Lorne along with the tall redhead stashed away in a nearby motel. It was easier to put them someplace out of sight then to try to go unnoticed carrying an unconscious woman around. He spots Gunn first, his tall body and shaven head sticking out in the small crowd of onlookers.
"There he is," Wesley says to Gunn as he points out the approaching vampire.
Gunn turns to face Angel, "Lorne?" He asks seeing the vampire is on his own.
"Safe," Angel answers quickly. "Him and the girl. The Beast and Steel Guy were still in the building when it collapsed so we should probably get out of here," he finishes as he hears the sirens. They were still a ways off but they were approaching quickly.
"Neither of you recognized him?" Gunn questions the two older men.
"No," Angel answers.
At the same time Wesley says, "I'm fairly certain if I had ever met a man who could transform his skin to steel I'd remember it."
"A nice simple no would've worked," Gunn tells him. "And it wasn't just his skin that turned to steel, but his entire body. That was Colossus from the X-Men, the girl was Rachel Summers. I thought I recognized them but that... I just about grew up reading their comics."
"You do realize how insane this makes you sound?" Angel questions doubtfully. "A comic book character fighting a demon. Not that it matters since they were both inside..." The vampire turns as he hears the rubble begin to shift and groan. It could just be it settling, but he doubts that. "...when the building came down on top of them."
Almost on cue a huge chunk of the collapsed building is hurled aside like a child's toy. Angel can just make out a lone figure through the dust. "Get ready," he says as the larger then human shape begins walking towards them. The person was still too far away to smell clearly, plus the wind was blowing in the wrong direction.
Within a few seconds though he can see light glinting off a metallic hide. His shirt was gone along with most of his pants as well as his boots, but otherwise he looks unharmed. "Come on," he says moving forward, "we still have to get out of here."
Colossus can just make out the three men rushing towards him. He scowls slightly not seeing Rachel among them.
"She's alright," Angel assures him once he's close enough. "She's with Lorne."
"I am in your debt then comrade," Peter says sincerely.
"Tell me the Beast is dead and we'll call it even," Angel replies seriously.
"Nyet," Peter growls as he shifts back to human. "The foul creature used some type of black magic to get clear of the building as it fell," he adds looking back at the rubble he had clawed his way out of. "I have taken his measure once, when next we meat I shall not hold back," he vows, his knuckles cracking loudly as he tightens his large hands into massive fists.
Angel blenches slightly at the statement as he takes in the destruction. If he was able to do that and claim he had been holding back Angel doesn't want to think about what he could do if he cuts loose.
Cordelia stares out the window of the building Conner had taken over and cleared out of pest that had infested it. It should have begun by now. It was suppose to be their night, but it couldn't happen if the mood wasn't set just right and there was nothing that set the mood better then an apocalypse.
"You seem anxious," Conner says from right behind her.
Master, the Beast calls her at almost the same moment. I have failed.
That was definitely not something she wants to hear. She puts her hand to her head as she turns around. Smiling at the young man she says, "I'm just worried about the gang. Everything just seemed so tense, and now with this Beast running loose. Only God knows what its going to do."
Conner shrugs dejectedly as he turns around saying, "I'm sure Angel can handle it."
"You're right," she replies. "Of course Angel can handle it. Its just," she starts placing a gentle hand on his shoulder, "what if they can't. What if they need your help."
Conner turns back around to face her. "You want me to leave you here unprotected?" He demands sounding incredulous.
Cordelia scowls indignantly at his comment. "I'm a big girl Conner. I can take care of myself and your father might need your help. Don't you think its about time you tried to make peace with him? Don't you think the fate of the world is just a little more important then your petty grudge?"
Conner glares right back but still he grabs his coat. "Fine," he snarls at her. "I'll go, make sure they're all safe. Then I'll be back," he tells her a moment before striding towards the door.
As it swings close Cordelia's scowl turns into a malicious grin at how easily Conner could be manipulated. She waits several minutes knowing the sensitivity of his hearing. "Meet me at the usual place," she tells her underling.
Images flash through Rogue's mind as the young woman struggles awake. Strange people; friends, family, lovers, enemies, creatures she knows she's never seen before, but she could name each and every one of them with confidence. It was a clear indication to the southern born mutant from the Mississippi Bayou that somebody had touched her, bare skin to bare skin.
Opening her eyes she takes a look around the oddly familiar room. It belongs to a tiny redhead, no bigger then Kitty, by the name of Willow Rosenburg. She feels a small smile creep across her lips as the image of a more then pretty young woman floats to the front of her mind. She shouldn't have been surprised, all of Kennedy's lovers had been women. The girl's first crush, at five, had been Scarlet O'Hara. Kennedy wasn't the first gay person she's absorbed and she doubts if she was going to be the last.
Sliding her feet over the side of the bed to the floor she's glad to notice that aside from removing her boots, flight jacket, and utility belt nobody had tried to undress her. If they had there would have been even more memories and personalities cluttering her already cluttered psyche and unless the professor or Rachel was close by she'd have a hard time maintaining her hold on her body.
It only takes her a few moments to put on the rest of her uniform. After that its a simple matter for her to stride across the floor and pull open the door. Thanks to Kennedy's memories she knew the layout of the house. Even if she hadn't there were half a dozen people standing in the hall, and again because of the young adult she recognizes everyone. Rupert Giles, watcher, Willow Rosenburg, witch and the woman Kennedy has a none to secret infatuation with, Anya, and Xander who are all talking to Forge and Kitty.
"Hey there guys," she says breaking into their conversation.
"Hey," Kitty greets cheerfully. "How are you feeling?" She inquires after a brief pause.
"Not bad considering I did a barely controlled reentry into somebody's house," she answers. "Nobody was hurt were they?"
Willow shakes her head, her dark red hair flipping slightly from the action. "No the house was deserted."
"Thank god for small miracles," she sighs. She feels that small appreciative smile of Kennedy's slip back over her lips as she gazes at Willow. She throws her head back slightly cursing the brunette softly as she turns away. Kennedy's personality was strong and while she didn't have to worry about the girl taking control of her body like Carol Denvers could do, she was still going to have to be on guard for the brunette's influence until she woke up.
It wasn't a major problem but it was still irritating since she has no desire to check out the petite redhead. Then just like that the brunette's presence, but not her memories, disappears from her mind. "Kennedy's awake," she tells everyone.
"How would you know that?" Giles inquires.
"It's because Kennedy is no longer fighting her for control," Xander explains.
The white stripe, wavy hair brunette looks at Xander suspiciously. "And just how the hell do you know that sugar?" She demands hotly.
Xander takes a step back sputtering slightly under her steely glare. He was just now beginning to understand that interacting with his comic book icons was completely different then reading their exploits in a magazine.
Giles plucks his glasses from his head in order to hide his smirk at Xander's predicament. Wiping them down with a handkerchief he remarks dryly, "perhaps we should table that discussion until we can gather everyone together. This way we won't have to go over everything more then once."
"Plus we still have more then half our teammates missing right now," Kitty reminds him.
"Of course will do everything in our power to reunite you with your friends," Giles replies smoothly.
Kennedy pulls open the door to Dawn's room with her left hand rubbing against her temple. "Somebody wanna tell me how I got up here?" She asks looking up at the gathering in the hall.
Willow blushes slightly as she says, "I sort of floated you."
Kennedy's lip quirk into cocky grin a moment before she suggestively inquires, "so was it good for you?" At which Willow's cheeks match her hair in coloring.
To the left of 1630 Revello Drive was a small crater where the remains of house lay scattered across the lawn. Ororo knocks lightly on the wood door of a rather ordinary looking two story house. Colored by her own personal experiences she had been expecting something a little more spectacular for a base of operation. The Avengers had their mansion, the Fantastic Four a tower, Doctor Doom had an entire country. Magneto, at one time or another, used an active volcano, a lost island, and asteroid for bases. Even their own home, Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, a building they had dubbed the X-Mansion was more then what people saw. This house though was exactly what it appears to be.
Behind her, at the foot of the stairs, Amanda keeps the blonde vampire, Spike, floating in the air next to her. The witch thought he could have walked here by himself but didn't want to take the chance of being wrong. Kurt was squatting down on the porch railing.
Illyana looks around as if she was expecting something to jump out at her any moment. There was a vileness blanketing this town, slowly suffusing everything inside its boundaries with its dark evil energies. It wasn't the overwhelming evil that she grew up with in Limbo, but the type that would seep in slowly, over time, completely unnoticed while the person was corrupted by it. This town was definitely not someplace she wants to spend a lot of time in.
She turns towards the door as it swings open. Her eyes widening at the blonde standing just inside the doorway. She was human, totally and completely human, but her essence, her spirit was imbued with that of an immensely powerful demon.
"Can I help you?" Buffy asks looking up at the tall mocha skin woman that towers over her. Despite the white mohawk and the black leather clothing she was wearing she looks extremely mature.
"I believe we have an associate of yours," Ororo replies as she steps to the side slightly revealing Spike lying on his back about two feet off the ground.
"Spike!" Buffy shouts joyously, a huge smile splitting her face as she rushes forward. Ever since his capture he had been all she could think of. If not for Giles' arrival and Annabelle's running off and everything else she would have gone hunting for those that took him long ago.
"Oh my god," she gushes dropping to her knees at his side. "You're okay," she adds pulling him into a tight embrace. Suddenly she pushes him back down concern clouding her features as she demands, "you are okay?"
Kurt's tail swings back and forth lazily as Amanda climbs the stairs to stand at his side. He smiles lightly as he playfully remarks, "looks like somebody was holding back on us."
"I'm bloody wonderful. If these wankers would've let me up we would've been here a hell of lot sooner," Spike snaps more then irritated at being confined to a floating gurney of nothing he could see.
"You mean like mortal enemies being madly in love with each other?" She inquires sliding her arm over his shoulder.
"Ja," he replies giving her a quick kiss.
"Course they did save me from being a pinata for the First and some hokey looking vamp so I guess I can be little forgiving," he adds in a softer tone.
Ororo grins at Spike's minor outburst. More for the looks him and the blonde, she assumes is Buffy, are giving one another. The way that her hands unconsciously touch him checking his injuries. "It seemed a more prudent course of action considering the condition we found him in," she says answering her questioning look.
"Thanks," Buffy replies pulling Spike into a sitting position. He winces slightly causing Buffy to wonder about what condition he is truly in. At the same time she takes a look at the other three people that had brought Spike home to her.
One of them was obviously a witch of some power considering they had floated the bleach blonde vampire all the way home. A golden hair girl, a little taller then her and a little younger then Dawn whose right arm was encased in silver armor and she was carrying the purest silver bladed long sword. There was something about the sword that drew her eyes to it, like it was the most precious thing she had ever seen.
There was something about the girl as well. Something that made her skin itch. She had felt it even before pulling the door open, but couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Now staring at her she knew exactly what the source of her irritation is.
The only other times she had every felt anything like this was the two times she faced the Judge. Around the Mayor, but especially at graduation when he transformed. D'hoffryn was another demon that made her feel like ants were crawling all over her skin.
They all looked like creatures that should make a person's skin crawl.
This girl however looks like the quintessential golden ray sunshine that every parent wishes for. What she had been before being called as the slayer, only without the major bitch attitude.
"Girl's name is Illyana," Spike says into the prolong silence. "Seems she had a little talk with the first. Sent her packing right quick."
There was something about the girl she didn't trust but she doesn't say anything.
"The blue furred fellow's name is Kurt Wagner," Spike continues. He knew he was going to have to get Buffy alone later and find out what it was about the girl she didn't like.
Buffy shifts her gaze away from Illyana, but keeps the girl on her radar, to the demon on her railing just in time to see him vanish in a burst of smoke with a small implosion of air. He reappears an instant later at her side with another disruption of the air, a small cloud of sulfurous smelling smoke.
She reacts instinctive rising smoothly to her feet, but before she can do anything else Kurt gracefully takes her hand in one of his own. "Greetings most beautiful lady," he starts with a broad, sweeping, and extremely elegant bow over her hand, where he places a soft feather light kiss on the back of her knuckles. He rises back up giving her his most dazzlingly smile as he continues saying, "we are but simple travelers lost in a strange land. Your more then worthy gentleman thought it might be possible for us to prevail upon your most generous nature to provide us with shelter while we search for a way to return ourselves to our home. He has told us some of the perils you and your friends face and we would be more then willing..."
"Not to mention capable and able," Logan says from the doorway. "Already been over this part Elf, so you can stop your groveling," he continues as all eyes turn towards him.
"Logan!" Kurt shouts as he vanishes in another flash of odiferous smoke.
"But I liked his way of asking better," Buffy complains to Logan.
Kurt reappears even just as the first words leave Buffy's mouth. He wraps Logan up in a tight hug that the feisty mutant excepts with as good a grace as possible. Which means he doesn't skewer his long time friend on the spot.
"Illyana!" Kitty yells happily and simply runs through anyone standing between her and her best friend.
"It is good to see you well old friend," Ororo says placing a gentle hand on Logan's shoulder.
Illyana plants her sword in the ground a moment before Kitty crashes into her. "Thank god you guys are all right," the blonde murmurs squeezing the taller brunette tightly.
"These are the friends you mentioned?" Giles inquires a bare moment after Kurt releases Logan.
From just inside the door Buffy notices Forge eyes lock on the tall black woman, that must be Ororo the others have been talking about, their teams field leader. At first she returns his look with equal adoration, but then as if remembering something she can't forgive she stiffens under his gaze. He sees her reaction as well, a look of misery drifting into his eyes a moment before he turns away disappearing back into the house. There was something about the exchange that strikes her as oddly familiar but she just can't put her finger on it.
"Most of them," Logan answers. "No sign of Petey or Ray?"
"When the portal started disintegrating I thought..." Illyana starts.
"I know," Kitty cuts in.
"I can scry for them," Amanda tells them then turns to face Buffy. "Amanda Soften, the silver tongue devil's significant other. If it's okay with you I'd like to get started right away."
"But then we found ourselves here and figured if we were here then you guys couldn't be too far, but before we could search for another problem came up and then another," Kitty finishes with a slight shrug.
Buffy barely suppress a gasp hearing the woman admit to being romantically involved with a demon. Then she realizes she's practically sitting in Spike's lap with her arm possessively draping over his shoulder. "Yeah, sure, go ahead," she sputters to the older woman as she just about jumps away from Spike. "Willow will know where everything is that you'll need."
"Pretty much business as usual around here," Illyana quips lightly.
Kitty nods as she gestures to her armored arm asking, "what about that?"
"Pretty looking redhead with a good looking brunette in her hip pocket," Logan informs Amanda as she moves past him. Then the short man plops a hat down on top of Kurt's head and shoves a black leather duster into his hands. "Come on Elf."
"Somebody decided they didn't like my leadership skills," the blonde answers cryptically.
"Where are we going mien friend?" Kurt questions Logan suspiciously. Almost every time the two of them went off on their own he was the one that wound up in trouble.
"Great thing about California Elf, package stores never close," he answers hopping over the side railing since the stairs were still cluttered with people.
Kurt vanishes and then reappears at Logan's side asking, "we're going for a beer run?"
Spike makes to rise hearing Kurt's comment only to find Buffy's strong hand holding him in place. "And just where do you think you're going?" She inquires in an overly pleasant voice.
"When you hear what's going on around here you're gonna need one," Logan replies as the two of them walk towards Buffy's jeep.
"To make sure they get the good stuff," Spike answers gruffly.
Buffy shakes her head saying, "I don't think so. Until these wounds heal you won't be doing much of anything," she informs him sternly.
"I'm kind of disappointed," Logan continues as he pulls open the door. "For a house full of barely legal girls there wasn't a single drop of booze in the place."
Giles watches the two men drive away while he listens in on a few of the conversations going on around him. He clears his throat slightly to gather everyone's attention. "Perhaps it would be best if we moved this gathering inside the house before we attract any unwanted attention," he suggest pleasantly. With those simple words everyone that was congregated on the porch and front lawn begins filing into the house past him. Waiting until everyone one is inside he takes one final look around before swinging the door close.
The best word that Cordelia could use to describe the warehouse she was presently lurking her way through was dilapidated. A strong enough breeze could topple the building, or so it appears. She stops as she comes face to face with the behemoth known only as the beast, a slight frown marring her otherwise beatific face.
"I heard about your downtown renovations," she informs him coldly. "I didn't free you from your slumber party just so you could do a little urban remolding. Tonight was suppose to be the night. There are suppose to be fireballs falling from the heavens right now, Conner should be between my legs, and Angel should be seeing it all. Now why exactly aren't any of these things happening right now?"
"Forgive me master, but all was not as you foretold. They arrived before the ordained time and there was more of them. A man of steel in particular..."
"Super-Man's real?" Cordelia questions dumbly. "How come nobody bothered to tell me Super-Man was real?"
The Beast stops looking at her strangely as he asks, "who is this Super-Man?"
She shakes her head, "never mind just get on with telling me what went wrong."
"Angel, Gunn, Wesley, and the Host along with two other humans appeared just as I began to prepare the sacrifice..."
"What happened to the man of steel?"
"He was among the humans that I did not know as was a red hair girl of immense power," he answers his voice slightly awe filled. "She was the one that brought them there so quickly of that I am sure, but transporting everyone must have drained her energy for she collapsed just after arriving."
Cordelia holds out her hand, an image of Willow made from light forming in her palm. "Did she looks like this?"
He shakes his head answering her by saying, "no. Her hair was cut short in a boys modern style but with a long tail braided in the back. The man's strength was great. He was able to match me blow for blow. When next we meet..."
"You won't be meeting him again," she cuts him off. "My plan doesn't call for any new players getting involved at this point of the game. Especially not ones that can give you a good tussle." She turns away from him her finger tapping her bottom lip lightly as she mumbles, "there has got to be someway to keep them from getting even more involved then they already have become." Turning back around she asks, "was there anything that you saw to indicate a weakness of any kind."
"The man had to transform into steel otherwise he was flesh and blood. He seemed overly concerned for his fallen companion, but most humans seem overly concerned with the latter."
"And the girl was passed out," she says a smile forming on her lips. "I think I have just the thing to keep them both out of my way."
________________________________________________________________________
Brave Strangers - Bob Seger
Nights were warm
Dreams were easy
No one standing overhead
Conversation didn't mean much
We were hungry but could not be fed
Radio blasting silly little love songs
We only listened for the beat
Taking our chances
Out there on the mean streets
Hiding in the shadows from the heat
We weren't lovers just brave strangers
As we fought and we tumbled through the night
We were players not arrangers
As we jammed till the dawn's early light
Swimming in the big lake
Taking it easy
Taking any comfort we could find
Didn't need the real truth
Didn't need the meaning
Straight ahead ignoring every sign
Every sign
And oh I remember I know you do too
Oh that one evening
I know you do too
Baby
I know you remember it too
The moon was high
Moon was flying high
We were hiding in the backwoods
Hiding out in the backwoods
With the moon flying high
My hand was shaking
And you took my hand
And it went all right
And it went all right
It went all right
So we walked out hardly speaking
Disappearing in the night
Saw each other a few times after
But we never really got it right
We weren't lovers just brave strangers
As we rolled and we tumbled through the night
We were players not arrangers
And we jammed till the dawn's early light