Insanity
Episode 14
Council Headquarters:
It had been two weeks since Giles and Spike moved into the base. It wasn't quite the same after that. Giles was reassigned as Buffy's watcher. Miss Aldridge remained Cindy's watcher. The group kept getting bigger. It was Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Angel, Jake, Cindy, Spike, Giles, and Miss Aldridge.
When assignments were given out, they were usually split into two teams. One would patrol downtown Sunnydale. The second group would patrol the suburbs and the outskirts. Everything worked out pretty well.
"I have a new assignment for you," Quentin said to Giles and Miss Aldridge.
The three watchers were meeting in Quentin's office discussing the current events in the town.
"Mr. Giles, I want you to investigate this new oncoming apocalypse," Quentin informed, "We haven't really dealt with that subject since it first came up."
"Yes," Giles replied.
"Miss Aldridge, there has been a recent incline in demonic activity. I want your group to go patrolling," he finished, "You're both dismissed."
Council Library:
"Giles, I don't see why we have to do this," Buffy complained, "We already know pretty much everything."
Buffy, Giles, Willow, and Xander were in the library. They were researching the so-called apocalypse.
"Quentin wants us to research this 'First Evil'," Giles said.
"Yea, but it only takes one of us to do it," Buffy replied.
"It would take me hours to research it by myself," he said.
"There is like nothing here to research," Willow said, "There's hardly any record."
"Giles," Buffy began, "How could anything about this be online or in any of your books?"
"I'm not sure, Buffy," he answered, "Just keep looking."
Buffy didn't continue the argument. She turned back to her book. So did Xander. Willow wasn't having very much luck online.
Sunnydale High Basement:
"Everything is going according to plan," Spike said.
"Thank you," it replied.
"They have no idea of what they're looking for in their books," Spike continued.
Spike had arrived in the basement a few minutes ago. He was talking to it, the "First Evil'. It was too dark to see anything, but he knew there was something in the room with him.
"I needn't your service anymore," it said.
Spike fell to the ground. He was out cold.
"Vampires," it spoke, "They're only good for some things."
"Yes," Glory said.
"Get ride of him!" it shouted.
The Master and Adam picked Spike up and carried him off. They returned a few minutes later.
The Master, Drusilla, the Mayor, Adam, Glory, and the Warren were all standing around in the school's basement.
"The six of you almost succeeded in conquering this world. That is why I brought all of you back. You six all have one thing in common, wanting to destroy the slayer. She will fail, they all will. It's only a matter of time before I am released from this prison," it spoke.
The six of them were unsure of what they were helping out. All they knew is that they could take part in the destruction of the world.
"In a few months, I will be free. That's when the world will be total chaos," it said, "I promise you that. You will all be a part in my plan."
Council Library:
"Giles," Willow said, "I found something."
Giles, Xander, and Buffy got up and ran over to the computer.
"What did you find?" Giles questioned.
"It's another part of the prophecy," she began, "It says that the six who attempted to destroy the Chosen One will return. They will be united under the sorcerer."
"The six?" Xander questioned.
"The Master, the Mayor, Adam, Glory," Buffy said.
"That's only four," Willow said.
"Who are the other two," Xander asked.
"Willow and Angel?" Buffy questioned.
"Willow has learned to control her power and Angel is no longer a vampire," Giles replied, "It must be two others."
"Drusilla and Warren!" Buffy exclaimed, "It has to be them."
"But Warren is dead," Xander added.
"Yes, but so are the Master, the Mayor, and Adam," Willow hinted, "It says they will return. Is it possible that the 'First Evil' can bring the dead back to life?"
"I'm not sure," Giles answered, "But I wouldn't be surprised if it could."
"It goes on to say that these six, lead by the First Evil will destroy the world," Willow went on, "The Chosen One will try to stop them, but fail. This is the end of humanity and the world."
"Why can't there ever be any happy prophecies where we win and save the world?" Xander questioned.
"Buffy, if this prophecy is correct," Giles began, "Then the six evils led by the First Evil will come forth and destroy us all."
"He's right," Willow added, "You know how hard it was to beat the six of them separately. Think how hard it would be to defeat all of them together and the first evil."
Buffy left the library in anger. She didn't want to deal with this now. She knew there was no way to take on all six of them at once. But there had to be some way. She grabbed some stakes and headed into town. She was up for some Bronzing.
The Bronze:
Buffy opened the door of the nightclub and walked in. She hadn't been here in like forever. She was now twenty-five and it felt weird going into the nightclub. She felt out of place amongst all the teenagers and college students.
She looked around and headed for an empty table. She put her bag down, pulled a chair out and sat down. A man came over and asked if she wanted a drink. She guessed they had a server now. He brought her a Pepsi.
"Hey," came a voice behind her.
Startled, Buffy turned around. It was Cindy. She looked out of it too.
"Hey," Buffy replied.
"Mind if I sit down?" she asked.
"Not at all," Buffy answered.
Cindy sat down in the chair opposite to Buffy. The two slayers sat in silence for a few minutes.
"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked, breaking the silence.
"I can't take it," Cindy replied, "It is boring looking for vampires or demons to slay. There aren't any vampires. Quentin has us patrolling for no reason."
"It can't be as bad as being cooped up in that library for several hours," Buffy put in.
"You have me beat," Cindy said, "I just don't get why I need to be patrolling when there hasn't been any demonic activity lately."
"I felt the same way when I started out. Sometimes I would go a few weeks without anything to slay," Buffy told the younger slayer, "That would just mean something big was going to happen."
"You mean like the prophecy?" Cindy questioned.
"Exactly," Buffy answered, "But there's more to this prophecy now."
"What?"
"Well, it says that the six Big Bads that tried to end the world before will return under the rule of the First Evil, that I will not be able to beat their combined power."
"I see."
"I want to believe I can beat them, but I know in my heart that when the time comes, I won't be able to," Buffy went on, "That upset me, so I came here to try and clear my head."
"Oh."
"Buffy?" came another voice.
Buffy and Cindy turned around to see a familiar bleach-blonde vampire standing there. He looked like he had just been beaten up.
"Spike what happened to you?" Buffy questioned.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't. It happened. I betrayed you," he spoke.
"What?"
"I couldn't keep it from doing that to me," Spike babbled on, "It's here."
"What's wrong with him?" Cindy whispered to Buffy.
"He's been a little crazy ever since his soul was restored," Buffy whispered back.
"Slayer in danger," Spike mumbled.
"Spike!" Buffy shouted, "What happened to you?"
"I-I was under its control," Spike started, "I betrayed you. Slayers are in danger."
"Is it possible for you to speak so I can understand what the hell you are saying?" she asked.
"It is…they are here," he continued, "I'm s-sorry."
He ran to the exit of the Bronze. Buffy quickly stood up.
"We have to go after him," she told to Cindy.
They both followed Spike out of the Bronze and down the street. They made sure they were far enough behind so he didn't know they were there. Buffy could still make out what he was saying.
"Slayers in danger," he mumbled, "Must help, but can't."
He kept walking. Buffy wondered where he could possibly be headed.
"It's coming," he continued talking.
That's when he ran into a man.
"What the hell?" the man yelled.
"I-I'm sorry," Spike replied.
"You better be!" he shouted in anger.
"From beneath you, it devours," Spike stated.
"You're crazy!" the man shouted and went on walking.
"We should stop him before he hurts anyone," Cindy informed.
"Let's wait until we find out where he's going," Buffy told her.
A few minutes later Spike stopped in front of the Sunnydale High School. He didn't go in, just stopped at the doors.
"Everyone off," he said facing Buffy and Cindy.
They walked up to him. Buffy was confused as to why he led them here.
"Why are we here, Spike?" she questioned.
"It is…they are…here," he replied.
"What is?" Cindy questioned.
"Is this where you were attacked?" Buffy asked.
"They're inside…basement," he stammered.
"Wait, this is where the opening of the Hellmouth is," Buffy suddenly realized, "Whatever this 'First Evil' is, it's gonna come out of here."
"No need to shout!" Spike yelled.
"No one is shouting," Cindy told him.
"Calm down, Spike," Buffy said.
"They will come," Spike began, "From beneath you, it devours."
"Yes, I know that already," Buffy informed, "But when?"
"This is pointless," Cindy told Buffy, "He has no idea what he's talking about and neither do we."
"You're right," Buffy agreed, "Let's go. Come on, Spike."
She grabbed him by the wrist and began pulling him. The three headed back to the Council base.
The Library:
Buffy and Cindy entered the library. Buffy was still gripping Spike's wrist. Giles, Xander, and Willow turned their heads to see who it was.
"So nice of you to finally return, Buffy," Giles said.
"The Hellmouth," Buffy said.
"Excuse me?" he questioned.
"Spike encountered something there. It attacked him," she informed.
"How do you know this?" Willow asked.
"Look at him!" Buffy pointed out, "It's obvious that he was attacked. And when I asked where it happened, he led us to the high school."
"He is insane, Buffy!" Giles scolded, "He has no idea what is going on."
"Then how do we know his information on the 'beneath you, it devours' statement is true?" she asked.
"She has a point," Xander added.
"Because we have done extensive research on it," Giles told her.
"Well then let's go into the high school and see," Buffy retorted.
"There's nothing there," Giles informed, "There wouldn't be classes going on there if something was occurring there."
"Where the hell have you been for the last eight years?" she shouted, "This is the Hellmouth! Who knows what's going on here?"
"She does have a point Giles," Willow added.
"There is nothing to worry about," Giles said, "The high school is perfectly safe. There's no threat coming from inside it."
"Imposter!" someone shouted from the entrance.
"Huh?" everyone said simultaneously.
They all turned around to see Quentin and Giles standing in the doorway.
Everyone turned towards Giles, who was sitting at the table. Then back towards Giles, who was standing in the doorway.
"What the hell is going on?" Xander said.
"I was locked in a closet on my way back from the bathroom," Giles said.
"Who is that?" Willow asked.
Buffy didn't hesitate. She leaped from her chair and lunged at the other Giles. Buffy went right through him. The others rushed over and surrounded Buffy and the Giles impersonator.
The impersonator started laughing, "Hahaha…you fools think it can be stopped by the slayer. Impossible!"
"Who are you?" Buffy questioned.
Suddenly the thing pretending to be Giles was gone. Now the thing looked like Xander. He smirked at all of them.
"Hey!" Xander exclaimed, angry.
"It's a shape shifter," Willow said.
"Took you long enough, sweetie," it said.
"Do you have a death wish, coming in here?" Buffy questioned.
"Actually, I'm coming to warn you, just not in the helpful way," it informed, "You will all die, for he is coming soon. He can't be stopped. Before the beginning of the summer, the world will be hell."
The shape shifter melted into the floor. Buffy looked pissed. Everyone else was confused.
"What the hell?" she said.
"No wonder he was so mean," Willow said.
"A shape shifter?" Buffy questioned, "I've never faced one of them."
"Buffy, a shape shifter can be a very dangerous foe," Giles informed, "We must not underestimate its power."
"What happened, Giles?" Willow asked.
"As I was coming back from the bathroom, I was knocked out. When I woke up, I realized I was locked in a closet. Quentin walked by as I was banging on the door," Giles told everyone.
"Everyone must be extremely careful now that there's a shape shifter loose in town," Quentin told them, "I want it taken care of as soon as possible."
"Well, it's better than sitting here researching," Buffy said, "Come on, Cindy."
"Cindy, your group isn't back from patrol," Quentin said, "What are you doing here?"
"Helping," she replied.
Quentin didn't look too happy with that reply. Not only did he have one disobedient slayer, he now had another.
"Good luck, you two," Giles said as the woman exited the library.
