Chapter 3: Choosing Sides

            Sophie didn't sleep. She stayed up all night and kept watch over the girls. It wasn't as if she didn't try to sleep. She did, but as much as she tried she was never able to. The rest of the girls were fast asleep without any problems, so she suspected that they are keeping her awake on purpose, trying to make her weaker. Their captures still saw her as the strongest and the one in greater need to be broken. If she had been broken the girls would lose hope. Sophie thought back to her slayer training with Mr. Giles, Rupert's father. She had been forced to stay awake much longer than this, for endurance. She was doing fine, in fact.  Except for her grumbling stomach and desperate need for a shower.  When she had gotten to the point of offending herself she changed out of her pajamas and into the provided scrubs. At least she'd be wearing something clean, she thought. She felt a pang in her heart after she had changed. She feared after more and more time she would just be doing everything they want her to. The first step was to look the way they wanted her to look, just like another test subject.

Dawn still stayed the same.  No improvement.  Sophia feared the worst for her unless something happened to help her.

            Sophia stared at the door, her eyes were becoming unfocused but it didn't matter, she was listening. She could hear the faint beep of a keycard outside the block and movements of the guards. As the door opened she felt herself ready to react.

            If only they would come for her and opened her cell, she would spring in the air and fight her way out taking a weapon from one of the guards. She'd lock them in her cell and released the other girls. She would get them out of here…

            But doctors passed her by, didn't even give her a glance. They went for Penny, again. Sophie could even go to the door anymore. Since her attempt yesterday, they turned electric filed in her cell when they were entering the area. She swore during the night that she heard the girls screaming but she could not be certain. She felt the eerie calm was playing tricks on her.

            She turned her attention back to Dawn, yet again. She had trouble keeping her concentration, and found Dawn's monitor to become very hypnotizing. She desperately wanted to fall asleep. She sat back on her bed, leaning her back against the cell wall, hugging her knees to her chest, she could have been that way for hours and not be aware of the passing of time. She was finally broken out of her trance when there was a commotion at the security station outside the block.

            Someone was yelling. Sophie got up and moved to the other wall moving as close to the door as she dared. She could see the security station from the spot in her cell. She strained to see more. A young soldier; brown hair, tall; was the cause of the commotion. His face was tense with anger and was yelling at another officer, a woman. Sophie was fascinated with him, besides her girls, he was the only one she had seen in this place with any passion. Something about this was personal to him. He was demanding entrance to the cell block. With a heavy sigh, the woman; his CO, Sophie assumed; ordered the guards to allow him in. Sophie instinctively jumped back in time to miss getting hit by the electric field.

            Even before the door had completely opened the man was through it. He did not have far to go and stopped at Dawn's cell door. "Damn it!" he said hitting the glass and then turned back to his CO. "You grabbed the wrong girl! Open this door now!"
            His CO reluctantly open the door for him and he was at Dawn's side in an instant. He knows her, was the only thing Sophie could think of, thank the powers....

Riley Finn looked down at Dawn's pale face and stroked her cheek. "It's gonna be alright, we're gonna take care of you." He whispered softly to her. "Sam, we need to get her to the infirmary now!" The women hesitated but Riley stood up. "Now!" he screamed.

            "Riley, calm down." She ordered him.

"Calm down? Why should I calm down? You screwed up! You grabbed the wrong girl. Buffy will not stop until she finds Dawn. We're not gonna be able to stop them." The woman didn't say anything just glared at him. "The other one already died, if she dies-," He pointed to Dawn, "I will never forgive you."

Sam gave the order for Dawn to be moved to the infirmary. As they were preparing to move her out, Riley stepped back almost leaning on Sophie's cell door. "Who was it?"

"What?" He said startled turning around to face the woman in the cell.

"Who died?" she asked softly. He just looked at her. "I need to know," she said gaining more strength.

"Um…I don't know her name." He said letting his guilt be evident.

"Was she Dawn's age?" She asked attempting to hold back all emotion, her body was tense with dread. She didn't look at him either, she was trying to remain concentrating by staring into space.

"No, older, thirties." He said and he noticed relief flash over her.

"Bridget." She said grimly.

"I'm sorry." Riley said turning back to watch Dawn be taken out.

"What are you going to be able to do for her?"

Riley turned back and shook his head. "I don't'…"

"Did you get the serum from the Council?" She asked quickly.

Sam was now at Riley's side and answered for him. "Yes."

"I can help." She said finally looking at them. "I used to be a watcher. I know all about it, I can help." She explained.

Riley and Sam began to argue softy, finally Riley won out. Sam was going to allow Sophie to leave her cell and help, but she would have to be bound and chained. Sophie agreed and waited for Sam Finn to get Johansson for approval. As Johansson and the Finns along with an escort of four guards escorted her to the infirmary. Johansson had keep to her side as they walked. "You know, if you start any trouble, that little one, -Penny, is gonna get it." He whispered to her as they walked.

************

            Pike walked out of the bathroom wearing a towel around his waist.  He saw Buffy sitting at the end of the bed, staring down at the floor.  She hadn't moved since he went in the bathroom.  Her lip was pursed in a frown.  She looked angry and sad at the same time.  Pike walked up to her and lifted her head with his hand. 
            "We are gonna get them," he said softly.  Buffy's expression didn't change, she just looked up with him with swollen eyes. 

            Finally she spoke, "Why," she hesitated, then her tone rose, "Why are we just sitting here, doing nothing?" Buffy moved her head out of his hand.  Pike sighed and went to his dresser and got dressed. 

            As Pike was putting on clothes, he said,  "Summers, we have to find out where to look first.  Take it from me, I know what I am doing.  I don't want anyone hurt, going in blindly."

            Buffy flashed back to the vineyard massacre.  She shook her head and wiped a tear from her face.  "You're right."

            Pike pulled his shirt over his head and sat down next to his girlfriend.  "So this friend of yours.  How's he supposed to help?"

            "He works for a law firm in LA.  He knows stuff." She said.

            "Great, another bloodsucking laywer." Pike smiled.  Buffy glared at him. 
            "Something like that." She smiled.  Pike kissed her on the cheek and stood up from the bed.

            "I'm gonna get something to eat, want to come?" he lent out his hand.  Buffy thought about it and let him help her up.

            As the two came down the stairs and into the dinning hall, Faith briskly walked up to Buffy. "B, its for you," she said handing her the telephone.  "Its Angel."

            A few slayers, Giles, Fiona, and Xander came around Buffy, who raised the phone to her ear.

            "Hey," she said.  Everyone was in anticipation, a strange silence blew over the school.  Buffy's expression was confused as she was listening to Angel.   "Great," she said.   " . . . . Will do. Thanks a lot Angel."  Buffy turned off the phone and smiled. "I know where they are."


            Xander, Pike, Faith, Robin and few slayer students carried firearms and weapons up from the basement.  They lined up the guns, crossbows, and axes on the large table in the dinning hall. 

            "So, you've heard of this military base?" Xander asked Pike as he placed down an AK-47. 
            "Yeah, I've been there a few times, weird place.  Appalachian mountains are only about an hour away.  We're lucky."  Pike said, he turned to Faith.

Faith crossed her arms, "Ooh, feels all to familiar," she said looking at the weapons.  Xander replied, "Yeah well at least its not the end of the world this time."

            Buffy came in and stopped at the site of the weapons.  She held up the slayer locating device.  "This is it." She said.           

            Giles followed behind her.  "Now all we have to do is wait for the field slayers to come."
            Buffy looked at the screen, "They are already here."

            Buffy walked to the front door and opened it as a van pulled up the driveway.  She stepped out in the mid day cold air.  The van stopped, and the doors opened.  Nine girls came out of the car and started to walk up the sidewalk.  Buffy recognized the leading lady, Jenny.  Buffy ran up to her and hugged her tightly. "I'm so glad you're here." Buffy told her.

            Fiona greeted the others slayers the same way and they all expressed concerns for Sophie. Buffy let herself wonder if maybe Fiona would take command, but as all the new arrivals greeted her, they pledged they're allegiance to her. But of course they would, they maybe older than her but she had been a Slayer much longer and that's what counted to them.

            They lead the new arrivals into the school. They had each been assigned a place to stay and brought they're bags to they're rooms. Four of the slayers would be staying behind to protect the school and five would be coming along for the rescue.

            The group knew they would embark at dawn, but for now they needed to work on the battle plan. At about nine o'clock pm, the entire crew meet in the staff hall lounge. 

            Fiona left her room and walked out into the hall lounge for the conference. She saw Evan and Matt sitting one of the couches. "What do you think you are doing?" she asked, "You aren't coming."

            Evan spoke up, "Willow said we should, our abilities would probably do you guys some good." She smiled. "You know me and my insidious nature."

Fiona took in a deep nervous breath. "Fine," she then looked over at Matt. "What's your ability?"

"Security," a grin spread from ear to ear.  Fiona just rolled her eyes and took a seat next to Giles. She wouldn't stop them from going. They were to useful, she could only hope they stayed safe.

Once they were all there, Buffy took the stand as leader once again.  She hated being the lead slayer, but did it anyway, still wondering if she could ask someone else to take over for her. Buffy stood in the center, circled by slayers and civilians. They're was only one slayer student in the hallway, Vi. She was the only student allowed to go. They had all wanted to for the most part, but they were minors and the Slayers they wanted to protect in the first place. Vi was allowed to come along because of her experience and understanding from her parents that understood what being a slayer meant and she would have to do what her duty demanded of her.

Buffy sighed.  "Here we go again gang."  She began discussing plans and procedures.  "The base is somewhere in the Appalachian Mountains.  That's not too far from here.  We will find them using this," she showed the locater device.  Then she went on with the basic jobs of entering the base. "Tomorrow morning, we get ready and get on the bus." She mentioned the school bus they used in Sunnydale to escape.

"Xander, Pike, so we don't waste time, equip everyone now.  These are humans we are dealing with, not demons nor vampires. – Hopefully.  Remember, disarm, shoot to hurt, not to kill.  Unless you have a good enough reason to do so." Buffy looked over at Pike.  He nodded and he and Xander lead the crew into the dinning hall where the weapons were.
            The slayers and civilians picked up there desired weapons.  Not a sound in the entire room.  Matt and Evan picked up a sword and crossbow.  Fiona walked up beside them and picked up a crossbow as well.  "A sword?" Fiona asked her nephew.

"I preferred them." He said testing the weight in his hands. "And I always loved fencing."

Evan paused as she practiced loading her crossbow. "Did it occur to you guys that if we get caught we get charge with espionage?"

On the other side of the table, Pike handed an empty handed Willow a gun.  She smiled, "No need," and handed it back.  Pike gave her a questionable look.  Willow raised her hands and said "These are my weapons."

"Ok, your funeral," he said laughing.  He underestimated her, which Willow was okay with. 

After everyone had weapons, Buffy spoke up again, "Teams, there will be two, one led by me, another by Faith.  On mine: Pike, Xander, Willow, Giles, Jenny, and Rose.  Faith's: Fiona, Robin, Vi, Onika, Teri, and Katie.  I think that's it for tonight.  Try to get as much sleep as possible, you will need the energy." Buffy looked at everyone and said, "Goodnight all." And everyone left in all different directions to find there rooms.  

Pike hugged Buffy tight, she closed her eyes, as she was held tight to his chest.  Pike gave her a kiss on the top of the head.  Pike walked with Buffy who was holding onto his waist upstairs into their bedroom.

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            The door to the room of the infirmary was locked from the outside. There was only one door leading in and out of the room, and outside that door were three guards. The fourth guard was stationed inside the room. Riley hovered near-by. It's not like Sophia would be able to go anywhere anyway. She had wrist and ankle chains and been locked to a place near Dawn's bed.

            Now all they could do was wait. Sophie had given orders to the medic of what to give Dawn to clean out her system, they just needed to wait to see if it had any effect. Sophie was exhausted, they had made her stand in the private infirmary and now her legs were barely able to support her weight. There was an empty chair at the end of Dawn's bed, Sophie internally shrugged and reached out for it.

            The chair was just out of reach. As she reached for it she knocked it to the cement floor with a loud bang. Sophie fell right after it. The guard in the private infirmary room, Sgt. Tanner, immediately pointed her weapon at Sophie. Riley quickly rushed in to aid Sophie. He helped her up and Sophie spoke with a heavy yawn, "I just wanted to sit down." She was using Riley as her only support.

            "Oh, sorry." Riley said, playing the gentleman. He got her the chair and helped her to sit down. Sophie didn't bother to say thank you. Once she was situated, the guard returned to ready position and Riley went back to the other side of Dawn's bed and sat down in the other chair.

            They sat in silence for a few minutes before Sophie decided to speak. "How do you know Dawn?" She finally asked him. She had been wanting to for hours.

            "Her sister." He said after a long time. "We dated."

            "Oh." Was all she could say. "How long?"

            "A year more or less."

            "And you would do this to her little sister?" She said, surprising him. Her tone had become so much darker in only a few moments.

            "I didn't." he defended himself. "She…" He faded out, trying to hide his anger that was so near to his surface.

            "Well you seem to have a certain power with the C.O. your blaming. So I think you may have had the power to stop this."

            "I didn't!" he said coldly.

            Sophie quickly turned the conversation. "What are you trying to accomplish here?"

            "I don't know, not my department." Riley sighed. "Sam- Major Finn was in charge of the extraction, Johannson is in charge of the Slayers now."

            Sophie looked down at Dawn. "She nearly died you know, and Bridget's death won't go unnoticed either."

            "I know." He said once again staring down at Dawn's face. Her face was not as pale as when he first showed her. Since the medic had given her the correct drugs, the color had returned. He absentmindedly touched her cheek.

            "You can't let this go on." Sophie warned him.

            "I have no say in it." Riley said distantly.

            "Her name was Finn, right." She stated instead of asked. Riley didn't respond. "Your wife."

            "What?" he looked up confused.

            "I supposed she could be your sister." Sophie said not changing her belief.

            "How did you know she was my wife."

            "So I'm right." Sophie gave him the non-answer.

            "Yeah." Silence overtook the room once more.

            "You need to help us." She said attempting to manipulate his feelings. She said it casually as fact, leaning back in the chair and closing her eyes. "It's the only way you'll feel better about all this."

            "I can't." He said stepping away from Dawn. "I can't." he repeated as he quickly made his way out of the room.

End chapter three.