A/N - A little more feedback would be nice guys, I don't even care if you
flame me. For everyone who's been asking, you don't find out who Elissa's
father is until part 12.
Part 9. Down to Business. The two groups stood facing each other, Buffy and Max in the middle.
"Introductions first? Or settling in?" Buffy asked.
Max eyed her group, they all looked tired, with the exception of Jondy, and a little bedraggled. But, she reasoned, it would be better to have introductions first, unite the team as soon as possible. Then they could rest. "Introductions." Max answered her.
"You go first." Buffy prompted.
Max turned and faced the Scoobies, LA team, and the military deployment. "My name is Max Guevarra. I'm the CO of the Seattle, X series team. This is Logan Cale, cyber journalist and computer hacker extraordinaire. Original Cindy our caretaker. Bling is our medic, he'll be working closely with Jondy, she's a doctor, also an expert in demolition. Zane is a mechanic, he can fix just about anything. Syl and Krit are our tacticians, that is they design plans of action, our tactics. Ty and Li are both logistics and statistics. Alec, well despite being an all round asshole he gets the jobs done." Max gestured to each person as she introduced them.
Buffy smiled, "Welcome to LA. Thank you for coming. This is my sister Dawn, she's incredibly important to me, if someone lays a hand on her it's very likely that I'll tear their ribcage out and wear it as a hat. Willow and Tara, they're both wiccas. Anya is a vengeance demon, it's advisable not to piss her off or wish for anything. Xander is a carpenter. Spike is a vampire, albeit he's harmless at present. My Watcher Rupert Giles, we all call him Giles. Angel is also a vampire, Cordelia is part demon, she gets visions and she can levitate, Fred is a computer whiz, certified genius and physicist. Wesley is one of my ex-Watchers, a demon hunter turned detective. Charles Gunn or Gunn as we call him, is a local, he's also one of the best vampire hunters in the city." She paused, "This is Special Agent Riley Finn. He works for the military specifically in tracking, tagging and chopping up demons and the like to make them into new creatures. These 'new creatures' call themselves Kinetically Redundant Bio- Mechanical Demonoids. Originally there was only one and destroying it proved incredibly difficult. That's why you're here."
Buffy turned to Max, "Do we want to get into this now?"
Max nodded, "The faster we know what you know the easier it's gonna be on everyone." She turned to her group, "Guys I'm sorry, I know most of you are tired and you need some rest, but this is important."
Li smiled, "If we know about him we can fight him."
Buffy smiled at all of them, as Wesley Willow and Fred prepared to explain the problem in detail. Max noted that Buffy looked almost exhausted.
"Well then," Wesley began in his clipped British accent, "This creature is, as Buffy has already said a Kinetically Redundant Bio-Mechanical Demonoid. These creatures were designed and the first one created by Professor Maggie Walsh."
"A right bitch if you ask me." Giles interjected. A small giggle escaped from Buffy's lips.
Wesley glared at them disapprovingly before continuing. "As far as we know there have been only two of them created. The first, Adam was destroyed. The second, Zachariah, is much more dangerous. He's stronger, faster, more powerful and more deadly than his predecessor. I don't know if this will mean anything to you but, he is equipped with GP2D11 infrared detectors, 180MWS, Microspec 9000 sensors, a harmonic decelerator, and a DC server. From what we can gage he is not, as Adam was powered by the Uranium Isotope 235, it appears that Zachariah is powered by a core of pure darkness, uh evil, if you will. He has been designed to be the ultimate weapon." Willow and Fred began their part in the explanation, using the several networked computers and a holographic projector. They basically spent ten to fifteen minutes pointing out all of Zachariah's features and special weapons, describing their functions and why they had been selected.
Once the explanations were over Buffy invited anyone with questions to ask them of whomever they needed to.
Max leaned comfortably against a wall. "This is going to get interesting before it gets boring."
"What do you mean?" Riley fired at her.
She smiled, "The ultimate weapon versus eight human weapons, a vampire slayer, two vampires, a vengeance demon, a pair of wiccas, three computer geniuses and assorted others, I'd say it's going to be an interesting fight."
"You say he has a DC server," Logan began, "That means that he takes power from electricity as well as his core. This diskette drive on his chest and wiring in his arms, I would take a gamble and say that he's jacking in to the Internet. Most people know that it's the fastest way to find information, I think that if we can work out either where he's connecting in, or what frequency he's using I'll be able to find him. It's not a whole plan, but it's a start."
Willow nodded, "That's a really good idea, but we don't have the equipment to do that here."
Logan smiled, "Max'll tell you I brought too much computer equipment. All we have to do is hook up my gear and we'll have the software to do it. We'll be able to uplink it through the 3CRAY MPX processor I have at home."
Willow smiled, "Sounds like fun."
Buffy chuckled, "How much stuff do you need to bring in?"
Alec grimaced at the thought of all the equipment. "Too much."
"What we'll do," Max began, "Is bring all of the equipment in, start setting it up, and then you guys can take a break. I know it's a lot to ask but..."
"It needs to be done." Jondy's voice was firm.
Li reached over to shove her. "Figures that the sleepless two prefer all work and no play." She chuckled. Alec brightened once the LA team and the Scoobies offer to help bring everything in.
Even Buffy moved towards the doors, but was thwarted by Elissa's cries.
Buffy smiled at Max. "Wait here."
Buffy was back in seconds, gently cradling her daughter.
Max's eyes widened, "She's yours? She's beautiful." Buffy smiled as she transferred her baby into Max's arms.
"What's her name?"
"Elissa." Buffy answered softly. "Elissa Kate."
Max looked at her, a little surprised. "I didn't think you could have children of your own." Both women ignored the looks of surprise on everyone's faces. "I didn't think I could either. Then Elissa was born." Buffy smiled down at her daughter.
"I guess even doctors can be wrong sometimes." Max grinned, "I'm glad they were." She cradled Elissa gently in her arms, turning to show Elissa to Logan. They both cooed sweetly to the baby, who in turn made a gurgling sound.
Angel looked at Buffy, his eyes sad. "You never told me you couldn't have children."
She returned his gaze. "Would you have stayed?" she paused, her voice became more shrill than usual. "Besides, you never asked me."
Max offered Elissa back to her mother. Buffy sat down to breastfeed her daughter. No one said anything.
Max leaned over and kissed Buffy's forehead." We'll be in and out for a bit. If you need, just call."
**********
It wasn't long before all of the equipment had been brought inside. Logan, Willow and Fred had immediately began setting up the computer networking systems, while everyone else set about packing away medical supplies, explosives and Zane's tool box, as well as examining and cataloguing the various weapons the Seattle team had both brought with them, and acquired during their trip
"What's in here?" Dawn asked, pointing to a crate.
Zane and Angel proceeded to open it, unsure of what kind of weapon the crate could contain. As they opened it Buffy peered over Zane's shoulder, still cradling a very much awake Elissa. She smiled.
"Didn't you get one of these for your birthday, Buffy?" Willow asked. Both Max's and Riley's eyes widened.
Xander laughed, good naturally rubbing his fingernails on his shirt. "I taught her everything she knows." Riley looked at them, amazed. "You taught Buffy how to use a..." He stopped, unsure of what the weapon actually was.
"Rocket Launcher." Buffy supplied sweetly, "It was a very useful gift. Unfortunately I had to return mine."
Willow smiled. "If you're a good girl we might get you another one, for your birthday I mean."
Xander chuckled. "Deja Vu."
Cordelia giggled. Everyone turned to look at her. "Sorry, I couldn't help but remember the look on Drusilla's face when she freaked out. You know, when the Judge went to pieces."
Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, even Angel and Spike joined in the laughing.
Once it had ceased Gunn ordered pizza, and everyone (except Willow, Fred and Logan) settled down for the night.
Part 9. Down to Business. The two groups stood facing each other, Buffy and Max in the middle.
"Introductions first? Or settling in?" Buffy asked.
Max eyed her group, they all looked tired, with the exception of Jondy, and a little bedraggled. But, she reasoned, it would be better to have introductions first, unite the team as soon as possible. Then they could rest. "Introductions." Max answered her.
"You go first." Buffy prompted.
Max turned and faced the Scoobies, LA team, and the military deployment. "My name is Max Guevarra. I'm the CO of the Seattle, X series team. This is Logan Cale, cyber journalist and computer hacker extraordinaire. Original Cindy our caretaker. Bling is our medic, he'll be working closely with Jondy, she's a doctor, also an expert in demolition. Zane is a mechanic, he can fix just about anything. Syl and Krit are our tacticians, that is they design plans of action, our tactics. Ty and Li are both logistics and statistics. Alec, well despite being an all round asshole he gets the jobs done." Max gestured to each person as she introduced them.
Buffy smiled, "Welcome to LA. Thank you for coming. This is my sister Dawn, she's incredibly important to me, if someone lays a hand on her it's very likely that I'll tear their ribcage out and wear it as a hat. Willow and Tara, they're both wiccas. Anya is a vengeance demon, it's advisable not to piss her off or wish for anything. Xander is a carpenter. Spike is a vampire, albeit he's harmless at present. My Watcher Rupert Giles, we all call him Giles. Angel is also a vampire, Cordelia is part demon, she gets visions and she can levitate, Fred is a computer whiz, certified genius and physicist. Wesley is one of my ex-Watchers, a demon hunter turned detective. Charles Gunn or Gunn as we call him, is a local, he's also one of the best vampire hunters in the city." She paused, "This is Special Agent Riley Finn. He works for the military specifically in tracking, tagging and chopping up demons and the like to make them into new creatures. These 'new creatures' call themselves Kinetically Redundant Bio- Mechanical Demonoids. Originally there was only one and destroying it proved incredibly difficult. That's why you're here."
Buffy turned to Max, "Do we want to get into this now?"
Max nodded, "The faster we know what you know the easier it's gonna be on everyone." She turned to her group, "Guys I'm sorry, I know most of you are tired and you need some rest, but this is important."
Li smiled, "If we know about him we can fight him."
Buffy smiled at all of them, as Wesley Willow and Fred prepared to explain the problem in detail. Max noted that Buffy looked almost exhausted.
"Well then," Wesley began in his clipped British accent, "This creature is, as Buffy has already said a Kinetically Redundant Bio-Mechanical Demonoid. These creatures were designed and the first one created by Professor Maggie Walsh."
"A right bitch if you ask me." Giles interjected. A small giggle escaped from Buffy's lips.
Wesley glared at them disapprovingly before continuing. "As far as we know there have been only two of them created. The first, Adam was destroyed. The second, Zachariah, is much more dangerous. He's stronger, faster, more powerful and more deadly than his predecessor. I don't know if this will mean anything to you but, he is equipped with GP2D11 infrared detectors, 180MWS, Microspec 9000 sensors, a harmonic decelerator, and a DC server. From what we can gage he is not, as Adam was powered by the Uranium Isotope 235, it appears that Zachariah is powered by a core of pure darkness, uh evil, if you will. He has been designed to be the ultimate weapon." Willow and Fred began their part in the explanation, using the several networked computers and a holographic projector. They basically spent ten to fifteen minutes pointing out all of Zachariah's features and special weapons, describing their functions and why they had been selected.
Once the explanations were over Buffy invited anyone with questions to ask them of whomever they needed to.
Max leaned comfortably against a wall. "This is going to get interesting before it gets boring."
"What do you mean?" Riley fired at her.
She smiled, "The ultimate weapon versus eight human weapons, a vampire slayer, two vampires, a vengeance demon, a pair of wiccas, three computer geniuses and assorted others, I'd say it's going to be an interesting fight."
"You say he has a DC server," Logan began, "That means that he takes power from electricity as well as his core. This diskette drive on his chest and wiring in his arms, I would take a gamble and say that he's jacking in to the Internet. Most people know that it's the fastest way to find information, I think that if we can work out either where he's connecting in, or what frequency he's using I'll be able to find him. It's not a whole plan, but it's a start."
Willow nodded, "That's a really good idea, but we don't have the equipment to do that here."
Logan smiled, "Max'll tell you I brought too much computer equipment. All we have to do is hook up my gear and we'll have the software to do it. We'll be able to uplink it through the 3CRAY MPX processor I have at home."
Willow smiled, "Sounds like fun."
Buffy chuckled, "How much stuff do you need to bring in?"
Alec grimaced at the thought of all the equipment. "Too much."
"What we'll do," Max began, "Is bring all of the equipment in, start setting it up, and then you guys can take a break. I know it's a lot to ask but..."
"It needs to be done." Jondy's voice was firm.
Li reached over to shove her. "Figures that the sleepless two prefer all work and no play." She chuckled. Alec brightened once the LA team and the Scoobies offer to help bring everything in.
Even Buffy moved towards the doors, but was thwarted by Elissa's cries.
Buffy smiled at Max. "Wait here."
Buffy was back in seconds, gently cradling her daughter.
Max's eyes widened, "She's yours? She's beautiful." Buffy smiled as she transferred her baby into Max's arms.
"What's her name?"
"Elissa." Buffy answered softly. "Elissa Kate."
Max looked at her, a little surprised. "I didn't think you could have children of your own." Both women ignored the looks of surprise on everyone's faces. "I didn't think I could either. Then Elissa was born." Buffy smiled down at her daughter.
"I guess even doctors can be wrong sometimes." Max grinned, "I'm glad they were." She cradled Elissa gently in her arms, turning to show Elissa to Logan. They both cooed sweetly to the baby, who in turn made a gurgling sound.
Angel looked at Buffy, his eyes sad. "You never told me you couldn't have children."
She returned his gaze. "Would you have stayed?" she paused, her voice became more shrill than usual. "Besides, you never asked me."
Max offered Elissa back to her mother. Buffy sat down to breastfeed her daughter. No one said anything.
Max leaned over and kissed Buffy's forehead." We'll be in and out for a bit. If you need, just call."
**********
It wasn't long before all of the equipment had been brought inside. Logan, Willow and Fred had immediately began setting up the computer networking systems, while everyone else set about packing away medical supplies, explosives and Zane's tool box, as well as examining and cataloguing the various weapons the Seattle team had both brought with them, and acquired during their trip
"What's in here?" Dawn asked, pointing to a crate.
Zane and Angel proceeded to open it, unsure of what kind of weapon the crate could contain. As they opened it Buffy peered over Zane's shoulder, still cradling a very much awake Elissa. She smiled.
"Didn't you get one of these for your birthday, Buffy?" Willow asked. Both Max's and Riley's eyes widened.
Xander laughed, good naturally rubbing his fingernails on his shirt. "I taught her everything she knows." Riley looked at them, amazed. "You taught Buffy how to use a..." He stopped, unsure of what the weapon actually was.
"Rocket Launcher." Buffy supplied sweetly, "It was a very useful gift. Unfortunately I had to return mine."
Willow smiled. "If you're a good girl we might get you another one, for your birthday I mean."
Xander chuckled. "Deja Vu."
Cordelia giggled. Everyone turned to look at her. "Sorry, I couldn't help but remember the look on Drusilla's face when she freaked out. You know, when the Judge went to pieces."
Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, even Angel and Spike joined in the laughing.
Once it had ceased Gunn ordered pizza, and everyone (except Willow, Fred and Logan) settled down for the night.