Plans

Episode 9

Unknown Hotel:

            Buffy had gathered everyone in Willow and Kennedy's hotel room. Everyone but Spike, Giles, and Wood that is. She had to tell everyone what was going on. They all had to know. They had to know what was to come. They also had to know that someone was back.

            "Where's Faith?" Willow questioned as soon as everyone had quieted down.

            "Well see," Buffy began, "That is part of the reason why I assembled all of you here today. Wait, where's Xander?"

            "Oh, he isn't feeling well," Andrew informed, "He told me to go without him."

            "Oh…okay," Buffy said, "Well then."

            Buffy cleared her throat. She walked to the front of the room. She had to make sure that all eyes were on her before she began to speak.

            "Last night," she began, "I had a talk with Faith. She told me that she needed to go out and discover herself. That she needed to find redemption. She wanted to make up for all the bad things she has done in her life."

            "Where are you going with this?" Giles asked.

            "Faith has gone away for a while," she replied.

            "What?" Eve asked, "She's gone?"

            "I'm sorry to say this, but yes, she's gone," Buffy repeated.

            Everyone remained silent for a few moments. They were still trying to take in the news they had just received.

            "Now I know all of you had suffered with Giles and Wood for a long while," Buffy began.

            Everyone nodded in agreement. She just hoped they didn't flip out at this one.

            "Both were under some sort of spell after the huge battle," she went on, "They were both tricked into believing I would kill them. I guess I broke the spell after I tossed them around a bit. I haven't seen Wood yet, but I've run into Giles. He's all better now."

            "Are you sure, Buffy?" Willow asked, "I mean they did try to kill us."

            "I talked with Giles," she answered, "He explained what happened as he was leaving the school back in Sunnydale. I will go into detail later."

            Everyone was very relieved about this news. She hoped that these next things wouldn't scare them to death.

            "On to the biggest news," Buffy began, "I hate to inform you of this, but we didn't defeat it."

            "Defeat what?" Andrew asked.

            "We won the battle, but not the war," she said.

            "Buffy, what are you getting at?" Willow asked.

            "I know what she's talking about," Kennedy interrupted, "The First."

            "Excuse me?" Danielle questioned.

            "She's right," Buffy said, "The First is back."

            "Are you kidding?" Ashley asked, "Are you telling us that we risked our lives for nothing?"

            "I'm not kidding and no you didn't," she replied, "We did weaken the First. It has to find another way to fight us."

            "Buffy, how can you be so sure that its back?" Willow asked.

            "I saw it, I heard it," she said, "And it wants revenge."

            The room was filled with yelling and fighting. Everyone was arguing over the big news. Buffy stood there, silently. She was thinking over what to do.

            "We don't even have as many fighters as we had before," Danielle put in.

            "I know that," Buffy said, "And I've thought it over and have everything planned. Giles is out trying to find Robin right now. Then, the two are going to go out on a search. They're gonna find and bring back as many potential slayers as possible."

            "But what about the scythe?" Vi asked.

            Buffy hoped that no one would go there. She didn't want to explain how she had lost it. She didn't want them to know. But now, she had no choice.

            "It was left behind," Buffy said.

            "Excuse me?" Ashley questioned, "You left behind one of our only chances of winning."

            "I didn't leave it behind," Buffy said, "I dropped it as I was trying to get out."

            "Oh," Vi said.

            "I have one more thing to inform you all of," Buffy said.

            The room got quiet once again. It took some time though.

            "Spike is back."

The Sewers:

            "Why won't you leave me alone?" Spike questioned.

            "Because you are a part of my plan," Spike replied.

            Spike was standing in a large area in the sewers. Facing him was himself.

            "What the bloody hell do you want with me?" Spike asked, "I'm just a useless vampire with a bloody soul."

            "That's the whole point," the other Spike said, "A while back, I attempted to torture Angelus and get him to kill the slayer. But of course, she ruined my plans."

            "Leave me the bloody hell alone!" Spike shouted in fury.

            "My plan to brainwash you before didn't work out," the other Spike said, "But this one will succeed."

Axel's Place:

            Buffy was lying in her bed. She just couldn't sleep. She felt so lonely without Spike. Although she had confessed her love to him, he still hadn't even held her yet. And she longed for it.

            She was tossing and turning in bed. She thought that she should be worrying about other things like the First Evil being back and all. But all she could think about was Spike. She wondered where he was right now. She remembered him saying that he slept in the park at night. She knew he wouldn't be safe there.

            Buffy rose to her feet. She pulled on her leather jacket and boots. She dashed out the door and down the street. She arrived at the park a few minutes later. She walked through the paths until she came to the clearing where Spike slept.

            There was no one under the benches. She was shocked. She wondered where the hell he could be.

Downtown Haynesville:

            Buffy was very tired now. She'd spent most of the night out searching for Spike. He was no where to be found. She began heading back to Axel's place. He was still out of town, so she wouldn't be questioned coming in this late.

            She walked by a few of the larger buildings. Just as she walked by the last one, she heard someone shout. She couldn't make out what the person was saying.

            "Buffy!" someone shouted.

            Her head turned and she glanced up to the top of the building. She could see a shadowy outline of a figure. The person shouted again. This time, she realized who it was. She turned into the alley and headed towards the fire escape.

            She jumped and grabbed the lowest bar, pulling herself up. She managed to climb up. She raced up rows of steps until she reached the top.

            There he was. The one she had been searching for all night. Spike was tied to some sort of platform. His arms and legs were tied down and he was standing upwards. She began to run over to him.

            "No!" Spike shouted, "Stay back!"

            Buffy stopped in her tracks. She stared at the vampire. The amulet was clearly in view now. She wanted to know what was going on. That's when two hooded stepped out of the shadows, in front of the vampire.

            "So you're the slayer?" the one asked.

            "The master said we'd get you here using the vampire as bait," the second said.

            "Who the hell are you?" Buffy questioned.

            "We're warlocks," the first one said, "And we're here to bring an end to you slayer."

            "So does everyone know that the slayer is here in town now?" Buffy asked, "I'm here for what, three months or so, and everyone knows already.

            "Shut your mouth, slayer!" the second one shouted.

            "Or what, you'll shoot your magical energy at me?" she asked.

            "Or we'll destroy your vampire friend here," the second one said.

            "Go ahead and use your magiks on him," Buffy said, "Turn him into a bat for all I care."

            "The way to destroy your friend has nothing to do with magiks," the first warlock said.

            "Yes, it involves something very simple," the second one went on.

            "Buffy!" Spike shouted, "Don't let them kill me!"

            "I won't," she called back.

            "That's if you can stop us," the second one replied.

            "You see," the first one began, "All we have to do is destroy the necklace and the vampire dies."

            "The amulet?" she questioned.

            "We told you it was very simple," the second one interrupted.

            "Spike, what are they talking about?" Buffy asked.

            "I'm not sure, Buffy," he replied, "I don't remember why. I just know that if the amulet is destroyed, I will die."

            "I won't let that happen," Buffy called

            She began running towards the two warlocks. They were still blocking her way to Spike. Just as she reached the warlocks, she planted her feet and then leaped over them. She landed back on her feet. She turned and kicked both warlocks. They fell to the ground.

            Buffy grabbed at Spike's ropes. She tore the ones keeping his arms down, out of the ground. She glanced over and the two warlocks were back on their feet.

            "Come now slayer," the first one said, "Do you really think you can defeat us?"

            "I dunno," Buffy replied, "But I sure can try."

            She left Spike and headed into battle. She figured that he'd be all right. She gave the first warlock a round house kick. She heard a snap as her feet connected with his face. He fell to the ground. The second one came at her. She grabbed him, tossing him across the rooftop.

            "And you guys are warlocks?" she questioned, "Where's the magik?"

            Only the second one stood up. The first warlock appeared to be dead. Buffy tossed him aside. The second one began chanting something. Suddenly, a bubble fell from the sky. She was encased in it.

            "Next time I'll know not to open my big mouth," Buffy mumbled.

             Buffy began struggling, trying to break free of her prison. She couldn't figure out how to get out. She stopped when she noticed the second warlock approaching Spike. Of course, Spike saw him approaching. He pulled the ropes keeping his legs down, out of the ground.

            The warlock was surprised. He didn't think that Spike would be able to break free. Of course, he hadn't seen Buffy break his arms free. Out of the corner of her eye, Buffy noticed that the first warlock was gone. She looked all around the rooftop, but couldn't find him.

            Spike grabbed the warlock by the neck. His grip tightened as the warlock gasped for air. That's when Buffy realized how to get out of the bubble. She pulled out her stake and thrust it at the bubble. It popped, sending her to the ground. She quickly rose to her feet and ran to Spike.

            "Stop Spike," she informed.

            "What?" he asked, "Why?"

            "We need information," she replied.

            "Oh, right," he said.

            Spike loosened his grip around the warlock's neck. He picked out one of the ropes and tied it around his legs. The warlock fell to the ground, face first. Spike then took another rope and tied it around his arms. He pulled the warlock to his feet, regaining his grip on the neck.

            "Who are you?" Buffy asked.

            "It doesn't matter," the warlock replied.

            Buffy nodded her head. Spike grip tightened on the warlock's neck. He began gasping for air. His face began to get blue.

            "Have you had enough?" Buffy questioned.

            The warlock shook his head. Spike loosened his grip.

            "So are you going to talk now?" she asked.

            The warlock shook his head yes. Buffy smirked.

            "Who are you?" she asked.

            "We are very powerful warlocks," he answered, "My name is Max and my partner's name is Mark."

            "What are you doing here?" she asked.

            "Our master sent us here to finish off the vampire," he replied, "He wants him dead."

            "Your master?" she questioned.

            "He is the all-powerful," the warlock replied, "He will kill you all and take over the world."

            Buffy paused for a few moments. She needed to gather her thoughts. That's when it hit her.

            "Your master is the First Evil," she said.

            "Are you sure Buffy?" Spike asked.

            "It's the same thing that the vampire queen was saying too," Buffy said, "The First is somehow controlling them all."

            "What do you want me to do with this one?" Spike questioned.

            "Just get rid of him," Buffy replied.

            Spike tightened his grip on the warlock's neck. He began frantically gasping for air. His face was beginning to get pale.

            "This just isn't working for me," Spike said, "It's just not my style."

            Spike gripped both sides of the warlock's head. He twisted his hands, snapping the warlock's neck. He let go and the warlock fell to the ground, dead.

            "Where'd the other one go?" Spike questioned.

            "I'm not sure," Buffy replied, "But I know he will be back later. And when he returns, I will finish this little battle."

Unknown Hotel:

            "Spike was attacked by warlocks?" Giles questioned.

            "Yes," Buffy replied, "They had him tied down to the roof of a building. They said they were using him as bait to get to me."

            "Were they powerful warlocks?" Willow asked.

            "I'm not sure," Buffy answered, "They didn't use any magik. The one trapped me in a bubble, but I broke out pretty easily."

            Buffy was in Willow and Kennedy's hotel room. Giles and Andrew were also there. But Xander had stayed in his apartment. Buffy was explaining to everyone the night's events.

            "What happened to them?" Kennedy asked.

            "Well we killed one of them," Buffy said.

            "What about the other?" Giles asked.

            "I knocked him out, I think," she replied, "But he might have gotten away."

            "Do you think it will come back?" Andrew asked.

            "The chances are very high," Willow answered.

            "They also said something about his amulet," Buffy added.

            "Amulet?" Giles questioned.

            "The one that I got from Angel that caused Sunnydale to collapse," she replied.

            "What did they say about it?" Giles asked.

            "Something about if it was destroyed, Spike would die," she informed, "But that was it. No specific details."

            "How did Spike come back?" Willow asked, "That's the one thing that has been bothering me since you told all of us."

            "I'm not sure," she replied, "He didn't even know. His memory is all messed up. I guess I tapped into some of his memories when he kept seeing me and now he remembers some things."

            "Giles, maybe Angel knows something," Willow put in.

            "We're not exactly on his good side, remember?" Giles reminded.

            "What?" Buffy questioned, "What happened?"

            "We stopped in Los Angeles on our way here," Giles began, "Willow and I went in and told him that you had died. I tried to keep what had happened a secret from him, but Willow told him everything. He kicked us out. He was extremely pissed."

            "You told him I was dead?" Buffy questioned.

            "Well yes," Giles replied, "That's what we had thought happened. And I was under a sort of spell."

            "I'll call him," Buffy said, "It'll just be a very long conversation."

            "Hopefully, he can tell us more about the amulet and what it has to do with and what is going on with Spike," Willow said.

            "Then I'll find out about those warlocks," Buffy said, "We do need to figure out why the First is controlling things to do its work."

South Africa, Spring 2003:

            Three shamans stood around a large chalk circle. They were chanting something in an ancient mysterious language. They were situated in a cavern somewhere in South Africa. They were conducting some kind of ancient ritual.

            Suddenly, a dark light poured out from the circle. The men's faces were lit up. They were so excited that their ritual had succeeded.

            "It feels so good to finally be released!" someone said.

            The men all glanced around, looking for the source of the voice. That's when they realized it came from everywhere.

            "I detect an evil presence somewhere on this planet," the voice said, "A great and powerful evil."

            "Oh great one," one of the shaman spoke up, "What do you command us to do?"
            That's when a great dark cloud formed at the top of the cavern. It began to rain. The men began to scream in pain and agony. Their flesh was burning away. Soon all that was left was their bones.