Swords Drawn, Act 3

The bow of the container ship was walled off, a single door standing ominously open. Conner stepped forward, but again Giles stopped him. "No. This is my fight; I go first." The room beyond was in darkness, the dim light from the cargo bay silhouetting the two men in the doorway.

Bright floodlights robbed them of their night-sight instantly, the shock hitting them with an almost physical force, knocking them back on their heels. Giles raised his sword hand up over his eyes in an attempt to see into the room.

"Greetings Rupert, Conner," a thickly accented voice echoed from inside. "It has been too long, me thinks. Time now that you should die."

The Scoobys followed the owl as it flew through the night; its ear piercing screech making it easy to track. It stopped occasionally, sitting on a branch so that they could catch up, hooting at them with what could only be described as contempt for their speed.

"Ok, plan B. Xander, go back to the Magic Box and get your car. I'll follow Big Bird here, then phone you when we get to wherever we're going," Buffy said, taking off at full Slayer-speed, leaving the others behind.

"Conner," Giles had his sword held at the ready. "Go back up onto the deck and wait for me."

"Are you crazy?" Conner looked at his friend. "Why do you think I'm here, if not to help?"

"Conner!" Giles turned his head to the side. "I told you that this was my fight. Sasha was my wife. It's my duty to avenge her."

"She was my friend!" Conner objected. "I knew her long before you met."

"If I may interrupt," the owner of the Russian voice stepped out of the shadows, revealing a tall, rakishly thin man in dark glasses. "I am quite willing to take you both on at the same time, but as Rupert has said, this is personal." A long broadsword shone in the harsh light.

"Ok," Conner backed towards the door. "Whatever happens, I'll be waiting."

Buffy's increased pace seemed to please the guide, who swooped through the air, heading towards the docks. Buffy gripped the sword Xander and Dawn had found tightly as the owl started to circle above a large container ship.

A figure pacing along the deck caught her eye, and she squinted to get a better look. Conner MacLeod. She sprinted to the gangplank and dashed onto the deck, drawing the sword from its scabbard.

Conner ducked just in time to dodge the blow that would have claimed his head, and he rolled across the deck, drawing his own sword. "Just what the hell are you playing at?" he demanded as they started to circle.

"Conner MacLeod?" Buffy asked, her sword moving from side to side.

"So what if I am?" Conner asked, his eyes never leaving the other blade. "Where did you get that from?" he asked, recognising it.

Down in the hold, Giles and Viktor also circled, their swords shifting slowly from side to side, eyes locked.

"Why'd you do it?" Giles asked, stopping the circling and setting his feet apart, one slightly in front of the other. "Why'd you kill her?"

"Because she stopped me from getting to you." Victor also stopped, and likewise got into a fighting stance. "Besides, is that not the fate of our kind? To fight to the death, till there is only one? Someone had to claim her head."

Giles fought to keep his growing rage at bay. "I would have fought you then, if only to save her. She managed to convince Conner to keep me distracted while she faced you."

"She was good," Victor mused. "I'll give her that. Just not good enough."

Losing all control of his emotions, Giles charged.

"I found it." Buffy got ready to attack. "I believe it belonged to someone you knew. A very good friend of someone I hold very dear."

With that, she leapt forward at Conner.

To Be Continued...