Episode 11: LA
The building that Hunter stopped his car in front of was a large stone apartment building. A large sign over the door announced it as the Tower Apartments. "He's in number 508," Hunter said.
Fray got out of the car and started to walk up the steps and through the door. She was stopped by a young doorman in a long red coat and white gloves. "May I help you?" he asked, his nose wrinkling.
"We're looking for the young man in apartment 508. Feel free to call him and tell him that Locius sent us. He'll be sure to let us in."
The doorman ducked inside for a second and Fray saw him picking up the phone through the thick glass doors. He spoke for a few seconds before nodding and hanging up the phone. He walked back outside and opened the door for them. Fray and Hunter walked inside and made a beeline straight for the elevators in the back of the main lobby. Hunter pressed the button and gripped the hilt of his knife that was tucked under his jacket. "What are you doing?" Fray hissed.
"His last run in with a Fader wasn't exactly a good one. He had just gotten his soul back a few years before and this Fader forced him to relive all of his most horrible moments. It was to make him be good, to make him feel for people. If he hadn't then he wouldn't have helped Buffy. Everything we do has a direct impact on the future even if it takes hundreds of years to show it."
Fray nodded. "Cool," she said.
"Sure, if you want to call it that," Hunter said.
Fray just gave him a look and he started to open his mouth to say something else when there was a bell and the doors slid open. "We're here," he said instead.
The door of room 508 was already open and Angel was standing there, a sword in his hand. He looked at both of them, the dislike on his face not even bothered to be covered up. Hunter pulled the ring out of his pocket and tossed it to him. "We need to talk."
Fray looked out from behind Hunter's shoulder and watched as Angel looked at the ring then looked back at Hunter. She could see that this wouldn't get them anywhere fast. "Willow says hi," Fray said.
"What?" Angel said, looking up from the ring.
"Willow, you know, the Wicca? She said to tell you hi."
Angel looked back at the ring then back at Fray and stepped aside. "Come on it," he said.
Fray walked in first, Hunter following close behind, his blue eyes scanning the room carefully. It was like he was looking for traps. The apartment was really nice and Fray could tell that it hadn't been designed by the brooding figure that was now putting his sword back into a case on the wall. "So," he said. "Which one's the Fader?"
"I am," Fray said, standing up. "My name's Fray."
Angel scoffed. "You're all the same to me. Manipulating people for your own uses."
"Well," Fray said. "It is kind of for the greater good."
Angel sat down and looked at both of them. "And who's he?"
"My Shielder," Fray supplied.
Angel just nodded. "So what happened that you needed a Shielder?"
"I forgot why I was here. Something happened when I was traveling. I lost my memory but gained power. They had to send him back here to make sure I got the job done. They couldn't tell Hunter the whole story though in case something happened to him. You were the first clue basically."
Angel just smiled slightly. "Alright," he said finally. "What do you need to know?"
"What, you'll help us?"
Angel laughed. "Hey, I didn't like Locius very much but I still knew what he did and why he did it. What do you need to know?"
"We need you to tell us about the battle with the First. It's got something to do with you so tell us about your involvement."
Angel took a deep breath. "This could take a while," he said. "Would you like something to drink?"
Angel got them both drinks before sitting back down and launching into the story. He told them about the amulet, about going back to Sunnydale, about Buffy's visit to LA a few weeks after the battle and her telling him everything that had happened. He even told about helping her find a few of the Slayers in LA. "That's really it," he said. "I haven't seen her in a few months but she calls on occasion."
"That amulet you were talking about. Did Buffy tell you what happened to it?"
"Oh yeah," Angel said. "How could I have forgotten that? She gave it to Spike to wear and he went down into the Hellmouth with them to fight. Suddenly he started sprouting sunlight from his body. It killed all the vampires that were working with the First but it also killed him. It was like he was dusted when he was down there. That amulet was the weapon that destroyed the First."
Fray looked over at Hunter and he nodded. "That could be what we're looking for."
Angel nodded. "It's supposed to be worn by someone with a soul but more than human. A Fader would fit that description. Just be careful," he said. "After what it did to Spike you don't want it to do the same to you. It has to be worn by a champion."
"Do you know where this thing is?"
Angel nodded. "It's still in the Sunnydale crater. They never got it out of there after the battle but it should be fairly easy to find since everything caved into the Hellmouth. If it's something you're looking for you'll probably be able to feel it. Locius said that when he got close to me it was like he was being pulled towards something. That might work the same with you."
"Thanks for the information Angel. We appreciate it," Hunter said, standing up and extending his hand.
Angel took his hand and shook it. "No problem," he said, handing Hunter back the ring. "You keep this though. It brings back too many bad memories."
"What did it do?" Fray asked.
"It made me see," Angel said quickly.
Fray opened her mouth to say something more but suddenly the large living room window shattered as a shape flew through it. Angel dove into the kitchen to get out of the way of the sunlight. When the shape uncurled itself from its roll Fray was able to see that it was another one of the masked creatures only much larger. Its head brushed the ceiling and it was wider then both Hunter and Fray when the stood side by side. "Well," Hunter said, lowering himself into a fighting position. "At least we found the boss."
Fray smiled. "Let's take him out," she said, pulling the knife from the sheath.
The creature balled its fists and lunged forward. Fray dodged and the knife cut it along its back and down its shoulder. It howled in pain as blood poured from the cut and lashed backwards with its arm. The arm struck Fray in the chest and sent her flying out the open window. She caught herself on the ledge, broken bits of glass digging into her hands and wrists. She flipped herself up and landed back in the living room again.
She took a moment to pull the curtain shut and block the sunlight. Angel came rushing out of the kitchen a moment later and struck the creature around the waist. "Not another one," he yelled.
The creature flew into the wall, leaving a deep dent in it. Fray rushed forward and hit it with the side of her foot across its head while it was stunned. She then dodged a heavy fist and sent a strong uppercut to its stomach, picking it up off the floor a few inches.
Hunter then took his turn as Fray fell back, blood pouring off her hands. Hunter slammed both of his fists into the creature's chest and then flipped backwards, kicking it in the chin and sending its head back into the wall. Angel smiled as he stepped forward. "I get to finish you off," he said.
He picked up the creature and walked over to the window. He tossed it out and then dove for the kitchen again as the curtain wrapped around the creature's body as it fell. Hunter ran over to the window and watched it fall, slamming into the ground and then disappearing as it died. "Thanks for the help," Hunter said, looking at Angel.
Angel smiled. "Last time I saw one of those things I wasn't in any condition to fight so I guess I got them back."
"Sorry about that," Fray said, stepping forward and still pulling shards of glass out of her hands. "We'll get out of here so no more of those creatures come after you. We have to figure that it heard what you said so we might meet some more of those things back in New Sunnydale."
Angel nodded. "It's alright," he said. "I can handle myself but let's clean you up first."
Fray looked down at her bloody hands and Hunter took her arm and led her to the kitchen. Together, Hunter and Angel washed her hands and pulled out all the shards of glass. The Angel wrapped them in gauze. "That should keep you until you get back to Sunnydale," he said.
Fray thanked him. "What about the window," Fray said. "You can't leave the kitchen until the sun goes down."
"I've got a friend I can call to come in and fix everything."
Fray nodded and started to leave, Hunter following close behind. "Hey, tell Willow and Xander hello for me."
Fray smiled back over her shoulder at him. "No problem. And thanks for all the help Angel."
Angel just waved to her from the kitchen. "We don't have to worry about any more of those masked freaks for a little while," Hunter said.
"Why?" Fray asked.
"They come in groups and we took out the leader. There won't be another group for at least a week. It takes them a long time to travel."
Fray nodded. "That's good. I'm tired of fighting right now."
Hunter nodded. "Come on," he said. "Let's go find that amulet."
The building that Hunter stopped his car in front of was a large stone apartment building. A large sign over the door announced it as the Tower Apartments. "He's in number 508," Hunter said.
Fray got out of the car and started to walk up the steps and through the door. She was stopped by a young doorman in a long red coat and white gloves. "May I help you?" he asked, his nose wrinkling.
"We're looking for the young man in apartment 508. Feel free to call him and tell him that Locius sent us. He'll be sure to let us in."
The doorman ducked inside for a second and Fray saw him picking up the phone through the thick glass doors. He spoke for a few seconds before nodding and hanging up the phone. He walked back outside and opened the door for them. Fray and Hunter walked inside and made a beeline straight for the elevators in the back of the main lobby. Hunter pressed the button and gripped the hilt of his knife that was tucked under his jacket. "What are you doing?" Fray hissed.
"His last run in with a Fader wasn't exactly a good one. He had just gotten his soul back a few years before and this Fader forced him to relive all of his most horrible moments. It was to make him be good, to make him feel for people. If he hadn't then he wouldn't have helped Buffy. Everything we do has a direct impact on the future even if it takes hundreds of years to show it."
Fray nodded. "Cool," she said.
"Sure, if you want to call it that," Hunter said.
Fray just gave him a look and he started to open his mouth to say something else when there was a bell and the doors slid open. "We're here," he said instead.
The door of room 508 was already open and Angel was standing there, a sword in his hand. He looked at both of them, the dislike on his face not even bothered to be covered up. Hunter pulled the ring out of his pocket and tossed it to him. "We need to talk."
Fray looked out from behind Hunter's shoulder and watched as Angel looked at the ring then looked back at Hunter. She could see that this wouldn't get them anywhere fast. "Willow says hi," Fray said.
"What?" Angel said, looking up from the ring.
"Willow, you know, the Wicca? She said to tell you hi."
Angel looked back at the ring then back at Fray and stepped aside. "Come on it," he said.
Fray walked in first, Hunter following close behind, his blue eyes scanning the room carefully. It was like he was looking for traps. The apartment was really nice and Fray could tell that it hadn't been designed by the brooding figure that was now putting his sword back into a case on the wall. "So," he said. "Which one's the Fader?"
"I am," Fray said, standing up. "My name's Fray."
Angel scoffed. "You're all the same to me. Manipulating people for your own uses."
"Well," Fray said. "It is kind of for the greater good."
Angel sat down and looked at both of them. "And who's he?"
"My Shielder," Fray supplied.
Angel just nodded. "So what happened that you needed a Shielder?"
"I forgot why I was here. Something happened when I was traveling. I lost my memory but gained power. They had to send him back here to make sure I got the job done. They couldn't tell Hunter the whole story though in case something happened to him. You were the first clue basically."
Angel just smiled slightly. "Alright," he said finally. "What do you need to know?"
"What, you'll help us?"
Angel laughed. "Hey, I didn't like Locius very much but I still knew what he did and why he did it. What do you need to know?"
"We need you to tell us about the battle with the First. It's got something to do with you so tell us about your involvement."
Angel took a deep breath. "This could take a while," he said. "Would you like something to drink?"
Angel got them both drinks before sitting back down and launching into the story. He told them about the amulet, about going back to Sunnydale, about Buffy's visit to LA a few weeks after the battle and her telling him everything that had happened. He even told about helping her find a few of the Slayers in LA. "That's really it," he said. "I haven't seen her in a few months but she calls on occasion."
"That amulet you were talking about. Did Buffy tell you what happened to it?"
"Oh yeah," Angel said. "How could I have forgotten that? She gave it to Spike to wear and he went down into the Hellmouth with them to fight. Suddenly he started sprouting sunlight from his body. It killed all the vampires that were working with the First but it also killed him. It was like he was dusted when he was down there. That amulet was the weapon that destroyed the First."
Fray looked over at Hunter and he nodded. "That could be what we're looking for."
Angel nodded. "It's supposed to be worn by someone with a soul but more than human. A Fader would fit that description. Just be careful," he said. "After what it did to Spike you don't want it to do the same to you. It has to be worn by a champion."
"Do you know where this thing is?"
Angel nodded. "It's still in the Sunnydale crater. They never got it out of there after the battle but it should be fairly easy to find since everything caved into the Hellmouth. If it's something you're looking for you'll probably be able to feel it. Locius said that when he got close to me it was like he was being pulled towards something. That might work the same with you."
"Thanks for the information Angel. We appreciate it," Hunter said, standing up and extending his hand.
Angel took his hand and shook it. "No problem," he said, handing Hunter back the ring. "You keep this though. It brings back too many bad memories."
"What did it do?" Fray asked.
"It made me see," Angel said quickly.
Fray opened her mouth to say something more but suddenly the large living room window shattered as a shape flew through it. Angel dove into the kitchen to get out of the way of the sunlight. When the shape uncurled itself from its roll Fray was able to see that it was another one of the masked creatures only much larger. Its head brushed the ceiling and it was wider then both Hunter and Fray when the stood side by side. "Well," Hunter said, lowering himself into a fighting position. "At least we found the boss."
Fray smiled. "Let's take him out," she said, pulling the knife from the sheath.
The creature balled its fists and lunged forward. Fray dodged and the knife cut it along its back and down its shoulder. It howled in pain as blood poured from the cut and lashed backwards with its arm. The arm struck Fray in the chest and sent her flying out the open window. She caught herself on the ledge, broken bits of glass digging into her hands and wrists. She flipped herself up and landed back in the living room again.
She took a moment to pull the curtain shut and block the sunlight. Angel came rushing out of the kitchen a moment later and struck the creature around the waist. "Not another one," he yelled.
The creature flew into the wall, leaving a deep dent in it. Fray rushed forward and hit it with the side of her foot across its head while it was stunned. She then dodged a heavy fist and sent a strong uppercut to its stomach, picking it up off the floor a few inches.
Hunter then took his turn as Fray fell back, blood pouring off her hands. Hunter slammed both of his fists into the creature's chest and then flipped backwards, kicking it in the chin and sending its head back into the wall. Angel smiled as he stepped forward. "I get to finish you off," he said.
He picked up the creature and walked over to the window. He tossed it out and then dove for the kitchen again as the curtain wrapped around the creature's body as it fell. Hunter ran over to the window and watched it fall, slamming into the ground and then disappearing as it died. "Thanks for the help," Hunter said, looking at Angel.
Angel smiled. "Last time I saw one of those things I wasn't in any condition to fight so I guess I got them back."
"Sorry about that," Fray said, stepping forward and still pulling shards of glass out of her hands. "We'll get out of here so no more of those creatures come after you. We have to figure that it heard what you said so we might meet some more of those things back in New Sunnydale."
Angel nodded. "It's alright," he said. "I can handle myself but let's clean you up first."
Fray looked down at her bloody hands and Hunter took her arm and led her to the kitchen. Together, Hunter and Angel washed her hands and pulled out all the shards of glass. The Angel wrapped them in gauze. "That should keep you until you get back to Sunnydale," he said.
Fray thanked him. "What about the window," Fray said. "You can't leave the kitchen until the sun goes down."
"I've got a friend I can call to come in and fix everything."
Fray nodded and started to leave, Hunter following close behind. "Hey, tell Willow and Xander hello for me."
Fray smiled back over her shoulder at him. "No problem. And thanks for all the help Angel."
Angel just waved to her from the kitchen. "We don't have to worry about any more of those masked freaks for a little while," Hunter said.
"Why?" Fray asked.
"They come in groups and we took out the leader. There won't be another group for at least a week. It takes them a long time to travel."
Fray nodded. "That's good. I'm tired of fighting right now."
Hunter nodded. "Come on," he said. "Let's go find that amulet."