Face off

Episode 19

Buffy's House:

            "Faith?" Giles questioned, coming out of shock, "What are you doing here? You're dead."

            "Well, see it's a long story to this," she informed, "Why don't we all sit down and I'll tell my story."

            They all walked over and sat down in the family room. Xander finally came out of his shock and relaxed again. Faith began her story.

            "Quentin had sent Wesley and me with a group of operatives to destroy this building where the supposed queen vampire was. We found the building and torched it. While we were all cheering, those mutant vamps attacked and killed all the operatives except for us. They fled, so Wesley and I chased after them. We traveled across Europe trying to wipe out all the mutant vamps. One night, we found a club where hundreds of them lived. We went in to scope it out, but it was completely empty. Then explosions went off and Wesley and I were separated. I figured that he was dead. I managed to get out, but not before torching the entire building. I lived in Wales for a while," Faith told them.

            "I was there a few months back," Giles told her, "You didn't by any chance see any hooded figures there?"

            "Let me finish my story!" Faith exclaimed.

            "Go on," Buffy told her.

            "Okay," Faith said, beginning again, "I knew the Watcher's Council was somewhere in England, so I headed there. I snuck in there and found some weird documents, which I'll explain later. So back in Wales, a few weeks later, I saw some girl that I noticed from a picture in the documents I had stole. I pulled her into an alley and explained to her what she was. Here, she had be attacked by those hooded figures and been left there by you, Giles."  

            "Oh my god!" he exclaimed, "Cindy is still alive?"

            "Was still alive," Faith said, continuing her story, "We found some girl who Cindy told me was a potential slayer. We got attacked by Bringers but managed to get away. The three of us decided we better head here. So we got on a cargo ship headed for New York City. Turns out, the ship had a few stowaways, the Bringers. We defeated them even though we were outnumber. We made it to New York City and began heading cross country. Luckily for us, we didn't get into any trouble on our way here. While we were in Los Angeles, we got attacked by Bringers again. Cindy was killed and we ran into Jake. We exchanged our stories and he drove us here. And here we are now."

            "Faith, what documents did you steal from the Council?" Giles questioned.

            "Well it turns out the past three slayers called were not truly slayers. The Council was confused that a new slayer was not called after Buffy died the second time. They used great magiks to send the power to some girl. In other words, they created their own slayer line. Unfortunately, it was only temporary and would disappear soon after the third slayer got her powers. The Council figured that they'd be around to cast the spell again once it disappeared," she told them.

            "Buffy!" Anya called, "Willow called. The girl is awake."

Later at Buffy's House:

            Faith, her name alone invokes awe," Andrew told some of the potentials.

            A small group of potentials were seated in the family room, listening to Andrew tell his strange story of Faith.

            "Faith, a set of principles or beliefs on which you are willing to devote your life. The dark slayer, a lethal combination of beauty, power, and death," Andrew continued, "For years and years—or to be more accurate—months, Faith fought on the side of good, terrorizing the evil community. But like so many tragic heroes, Faith was seduced by the lure of the dark side. She wrapped evil around her like a large, evil Mexican serape. She became a cold-blooded killer. Nobody was immune to her trail of destruction. Not friends, not family... Not even the most pacifist and logical of races."

            He began telling the story of how Faith killed a Vulcan, a creature from Star-Trek. He even acted it out, ending his story by holding a stake to Molly's neck.

            "What the hell are you talking about?" Amanda questioned, "I thought Faith killed a Volcanologist."

            "Silly, silly Amanda," he chuckled, "Why would Faith kill a person that studies Vulcans?
            "He studied volcanoes. He was a professor," Amanda informed him.

            "I thought you weren't supposed to make up stories anymore?" Rona questioned.

            "I'm not. This is true. Except for that... possible... word misunderstanding. They're the things you need to know about. Faith... has a history not to be taken lightly. She's a killer. Never forget that. You must stay on guard around Faith at all times. Your very lives may depend on it," he finished.

            "Andrew!" Xander shouted, coming into the room, "Stop telling stories. Buffy told you what would happen if you kept it up. And stop scaring the girls. They have enough things to worry about with the First and all."

The Hospital:

           Shannon lay in a hospital bed. She was covered in bandages. She still had scraps and cuts all over her face and arms. Buffy and Willow are standing there, looking concerned as they listened to her story.

"He was a minister or something... At least, he dressed like one. I thought he was trying to save me... at first," she told them.

"He—he picked you up on the side of the road?" Buffy questioned.      

"Bringers were chasing me. He said they were his boys... right before he burned me," she went on.

            She then pulled away the bandage on her neck, where Caleb had burned her. Willow pulled out a digital camera and took a picture for later studying.

"He wanted to tell you something. Before he... cut me... he told me to give the slayer a message," she said.

"What is it?" Buffy asked.

"He said, 'I have something of yours,'" she replied.

Buffy's House

            "We've got a new player in town," Buffy informed, addressing the troops, "He dresses like a preacher, calls himself Caleb, said he has something of mine." 

            The family room was packed with people. All the potentials, Giles, Spike, Willow, Xander, Anya, Andrew, Faith, and Jake were there.

            "I'm tired of waiting. It's time to act now!" Buffy informed, "If Caleb has something of mine, I'm gonna get it."

            Buffy left the room and headed upstairs to grab a bag to house her slayer supplies. When she returned, all the potentials were gone.

            "I want to test the girls. We need to arm them and test them in battle," she informed.

            "It could be a trap, Buffy," Giles objected, "We don't even know what Caleb has of yours."

            "It could be another S-I-T," Buffy told him.

            "It could be a stapler," Giles replied.

            "I'm going anyway," she responded.

            "Buffy, these girls have not seen combat. It is our job to keep them safe," Giles argued.

            "Well, its time for them to see some," she said, "At least the experience girls who have been her the longest."

            "It might be the old bait and switch," Spike informed, "The First wants all the power out of here so that it can come back and have all the potentials killed."

            "That's why Willow is staying here to protect them," Buffy responded.

            "I'm worried though," Willow interrupted, "I mean what if I can't protect them? What if I get them all killed?"

            "You'll be fine, Will," Buffy comforted, "I have faith in you."

           "Buffy, we know nothing of this Caleb. We should research and find out more about him. We don't know his power, his motives, anything about him," Giles argued.

            "There isn't time anymore," she argued, "We've got to do this now. You're staying behind. Help the girls that need a teacher."

The Woods:

            Buffy needed to find out where the First was hiding out. She had no clue where to look. Ever since they had stopped the seal, the First was gone from the school basement. Her plan was to follow a Bringer around until it led her to the location of Caleb or the First.

            She had dragged Faith out with her. They had wandered along until they stumbled upon a Bringer. It led them to the woods.

            "Geez! How do they move without eyes?" Faith asked.

            "I'm not sure," Buffy replied.

            "And they move so fast. Maybe they have sonar," Faith proceeded.

            "Why did you come back, Faith?" Buffy asked.

            "Well, I wasn't planning on it. But then I met Cindy and she told me all that was going on around here. I knew that I had to come back and help you. I felt like I had to," she replied. "What's it been like around here?"

            "Well, last year, I faced a very tough warlock, claiming to be the First," Buffy answered, "I beat it and something told me that I had defeated all evil. Whatever that something was, it lied. Well, I got my house back. Or Anya did. That was after the Council base here was attacked."

            "Yeah, I heard about the Council getting destroyed," Faith commented.

            "Giles came back with three potentials right before last year's apocalypse. He left twice to go after potentials. The second time her took Cindy but only he came back. Spike was killing people because the First was manipulating him. He was captured and used to bring forth an Ubervamp. I beat that and rescued him. We took Andrew hostage. He had killed his friend. The First convinced him to. I dragged him down to a seal in the school's basement and got him to cry, closing the seal. I found out how the First slayer was created. That's about it."       

            "You have come up against a lot since I left," Faith said.

            "It's been tough, but we've beaten everything so far. I just don't know if we'll be able to win this time though."

            "Look, there's some kind of building over there," Faith interrupted, pointing in the direction of the Bringer.

            The Bringer headed towards the building. There was a dim light shining inside. It looked like an old wine cellar. Buffy noticed a sign above the door. It said 'Ville Vineyard'. Two other Bringers approached the other one and the three entered the building.

            "Looks like this is where he may be hiding," Faith said.

            "Come on," Buffy said, "Let's go get the troops."

Buffy's House:

            "All right, listen up girls!" Xander shouted, "You're gonna need to know how to kill something and I know most of you have never fought anything."

            All the girls were present in the family room and facing Xander. Willow, Anya, and Andrew were standing behind him, listening also.

            "Chest and throat if it's a vampire. Stomach, chest, and face if it's a Bringer," he informed, "If it is another type of monster, ignore the tentacles and go for the center, brain, eyes, and heart. Everything has eyes."

            "I don't care what this thing is," Kennedy said, speaking up, and swinging a sword, "I just want a swing at it."

            "You people are even crazier than her," Rona spoke.

            "Than whom?" he questioned.

            "Buffy, man!" she exclaimed, "I mean, taking us right into the bad guy's lair."    

           "Well, that generally where you go to find the bad guy and I don't think you came here to fight plaque," he countered.

            "No, I came here for protection," she replied.

            "Well you signed on to fight with us," Xander replied.

            "I understand that, but this plan is trouble," she said, "Buffy doesn't really care how many of us she puts into danger."

            "Let me tell you something about Buffy," Xander interrupted, "In fact you should all listen to this. I've been through more battles with Buffy than you all can ever imagine. She's stopped everything that has ever come up against her. She's laid down her life literally to protect the people around her. This girl has died two times and she's still standing. You're scared, that's smart. You got questions, you should. But you doubt her motives, you think Buffy's all about the kill, you take the little bus to battle. I've seen her heart, and this time not literally, and I'm telling you right now she cares more about your lives than you will ever know. You've gotta trust her. She's earned it."

            Buffy and Faith had returned during this little speech. They had stopped in the doorway, listening. It deeply touched Buffy.

            "Damn! I never knew you were that cool!" Faith exclaimed, from her spot.

            "Well you were always a little slow," Buffy replied.

            "I get that now," Faith replied.

            "Alright, gather your weapons!" Buffy commanded.

The Vineyard:

            "Alright here's the deal," Buffy commanded.

            She split the potentials into two groups.

            "Xander, you and Faith stay with this group as backup and a perimeter guard. Don't let anyone inside," she told him.

            "What's our cue to come in?" he questioned.

            "When you hear lots of screaming and fighting," she replied.

            Buffy entered the vineyard, followed by Spike, Kennedy, Molly, Annabelle, Julia, and Danielle.

            "What is this place?" Molly asked.

            "It's an old vineyard," Buffy replied.     

            "An evil vineyard, huh?" Kennedy said.

            "Just like Falcon's Crest," Spike put in.

            Buffy led the group through the vineyard. It was empty except for all the large wine barrels.

            "Be ready!" Buffy exclaimed.

            Suddenly, Bringers shot up from everywhere. The battle began. Everyone spread out and began fighting. Buffy glanced around after killing the Bringer she was fighting. Everyone seemed to be holding their own. That's when the Bringers began to back off, silently.

            "Well now, you girls are just burning with righteousness, aren't you? You think you're blazing like suns when really you're burning like match-sticks in the wind," Caleb said, coming out of the shadows.

            Everyone stopped fighting. Caleb walked up to Buffy, glanced her over. Spike was at her side, ready for anything.

            "I hope my boys didn't tire you out too much," he said.

            "Save the sermon, padre. I heard you have something of mine," Buffy replied.

            "Well I do now," he began, "You liked my little message, did you? You know, I ruined a perfectly good knife on that girl. Got her soiled blood all over the place. I may have to get a new truck…so, you're her. The slayer, the strongest, the fastest, the most aflame with that most precious invention of all mankind—the notion of goodness. The slayer must indeed be powerful."

            Out of no where, he backhanded her. The blow sent Buffy flying through the air and into a wall. She was out cold.

            "So what else you got?" Caleb questioned.

            Spike vamped out, instantly, and attacked. Caleb shoved him back, effortlessly. Spike lunged again. He gave Caleb a back kick, which did not even phase him. He grabbed Spike and tossed him across the cellar. Spike crashed into a wine barrel. He was covered in wine.

            The fight resumed. This time, the potentials were not doing so well against the Bringers. Kennedy was tossed into a wine barrel, which knocked her out. Molly went to attack when Caleb grabbed her arm.

            "Miss, I do believe that you have your own problems you should be worried about," he told her and then broke her arm.

             He bent down to pick up a Bringer knife and smiled. He tossed it to a Bringer. The Bringer was about to stab Molly when an arrow hit it in the arm. Xander stood at the bottom of the stairs, Faith and the second group of potentials behind him. That's when Xander noticed Buffy, lying across the room, unconscious. Faith approached Caleb.

            "Well, you're the other one, aren't you? Your Cain to her Abel. No offense meant to Cain, of course," he said, eyeing her up.

            "Never was much for the good book," Faith countered.

            "Oh, it has its moments. Paul had some good stuff, for instance. But overall I find it a tad complicated. I like to keep things simple. Good folk, bad folk, clean folk, dirty folk..." he continued.

            They began fighting. Caleb had the upper hand though. Faith got a few good hits in but was losing it. He kicked her across the room and into a wine barrel, drenching her in wine. Caleb noticed Annabelle, staring at him in horror. He approached her and she held a knife up in defense. He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her off the ground. He pinned her against a wall.

            "What can I say? I work in mysterious way," he said, stabbing the knife into Annabelle.

            She fell to the ground dead.

            "And also some straightforward ones," he said.

            Buffy came to and watched Annabelle get stabbed.

            "Get everyone out of here," she told Xander.

            She stood up and charged Caleb. She surprised him, getting several good punches in. She gave him one final hit, knocking him into a barrel. Spike grabbed her by the shoulder.

            "We're leaving," he told her.

            Xander was standing in the middle of the wine cellar. He glanced around at the potentials.

            "Let's go!" he shouted, "We're leaving!"

            He turned to go and ran smack into Caleb. Caleb grabbed him by the throat.

            "You're the one that sees everything aren't you?" he questioned, "Well let's see, what we can't do about that?"

            He waved his hand in the air and then jammed his thumb into Xander's left eye. Spike watched from a distance. Xander howled in pain as blood poured from his eye socket. Spike slammed Caleb from behind, releasing his grip around Xander's neck. Buffy rushed over and she and Spike helped Xander out of the cellar.

Downtown Sunnydale:

Buffy was walking down the streets of Sunnydale, alone. She was trying to hold herself together. It was obvious that she was in a lot of pain. She had let her friends down, gotten Xander injured and some of the potentials killed.

            She had stopped by the hospital. She walked by Molly, whose was sitting on a bed, with a broken arm. She walked by other potentials, who were lying in beds, injured. She stopped at Xander's room. He was out cold. His head and eye were bandaged. Willow was sadly sitting at his side. Buffy feared the worse.

           She continued to head back home. She walked through the house. The potentials were all over, nursing their wounds. They all gave her looks that pierced her soul. She continued her walk down the streets of Sunnydale. She had screwed up big time and was paying for it dearly.