Fic: Ultimate Slayer - Issue 3

Author: mkcrl120

Disclaimer: All the characters mentioned in this story belong to Joss Whedon or Mutant Enemy or some other people. I own nothing and wrote this just to get it out of my system. The Ultimate idea comes from Marvel's use of revamping (pardon the pun) some of it's older titles.

Summary: Fresh universe… it all starts here folks

Rating: 15 by English standards (mainly for language)

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Ultimate Slayer #3: Chosen part two

Los Angeles

Nicole was sitting at a table, picking at her fries. "So your parents kicked you out to fend for yourself again?"

"As always." Buffy said, taking a long suck at her milkshake through a straw. "Mmmm mmmm. Reno's just do the best milkshakes in town."

"It's kind of a bit too Happy Days for me." Kim replied, indicating the jukebox and the cheesey neon lighting spread around the room.

"You're just miserable cos none of the basketball team come in here." Nicole commented.

Kimberley got a far away look in her eye. "I am not in love with the basketball team... just Simon. He's so dreamy."

Buffy had to control herself not to spit out her milkshake, "Dreamy??? Now who's become a bit too Happy Days?"

"Just getting into character."

"So, is Simon like the Fonz in this delusion of yours?" Nicole laughed, Buffy quickly joined in.

"Shhh... shh..." Kimberley tried to get them under control.

A new voice arrived at the table, it belonged to an attractive black girl. "Hey guys... Mind if I join you."

"Jennifer... Please." Buffy said giggling, and gesturing towards the free seat. "We were just talking about you."

Jennifer sat down and stole a few of Nicole's fries. Noticing the plate in front of her, she asked. "Hungry, Buffy?"

"Buffy doesn't get fed at home." Kimberley explained.

"I do... Sometimes."

Their conversation was interrupted by the door crashing inwards. They all glanced towards it, to see the cause of the noise.

Benny was picking himself off the floor. "That was so not funny."

Pike strolled in behind him, a smug look on his face. "Dude... you're the one that tripped on the kerb. I didn't do nuffin."

Benny walked over to the stools near the counter and sat down. Banging his fist on the tabletop he kept shouting "Service... Service... hungry men need service over here."

Nicole cattily replied. "Pity they won't be able to pay for it."

Jennifer looked towards the newcomers. "You know these guys?"

Kimberley grinned. "One of them gave Buffy a lapdance earlier."

"He so did not."

"What have we here..?" Benny said, swivelling on the chair to face the table of girls. "Forget it." He shouted over his shoulder. Facing the girls and staring directly at Kimberley, "I've found some other people I'd prefer to service me."

"Fat chance."

Pike had sat on the stool next to Benny's. "Hey, it's those girls again. You know if you want to return the lapdance so we're even..." He leered at Buffy.

"You couldn't handle me."

"I'd sure like to try."

Kimberley was shocked. "Don't flirt back."

"I wasn't."

"Fooled me."

Pike turned his attention back to Benny. "Where's the food, dude."

"Hey, you're a poet."

"Yeah, and no-one told me. Concentrate... Where. Is. The. Food?"

"Waitress is ignoring me." Benny said pointing over to the middle-aged waitress who was taking someone else's order.

"That's not how you get fed here." Pike lifted himself, so that he was sitting on the tabletop with his feet resting on the stool. Wrapping his feet under the bottom of the stool for support, he leaned back so that he could see into the kitchen area. "Mister P... Mister P... It's me, Mister P."

The waitress came over and tried to physically push him back onto his side of the counter. Pike relaxed his body, and flailed his arms about pretending to fall on the waitress.

Buffy felt herself grinning at his antics.

The chef came out from the kitchen. "Tony... my little Tony...how are you my boy?"

Pike returned to his seat, "I'm cool, Mister P. What have you got for...?" He emptied his pockets, Benny did the same next to him. "Three dollars and... twent..thir... fourty seven cents."

"And a button." Benny said from beside him. Pike casually kicked his shin.

"Ow.."

"For that you can have two cups of coffee and a dough..." The waitress began.

The chef interrupted, "I'll do hamburgers and fries and two cokes..."

"Done." Pike said, shaking the chef's hand.

"Five minutes boys." The chef said, disappearing back into the kitchen.

"Ahhh... they get their food for free." Kimberley mocked.

"We did not. We paid for it." Benny argued.

Buffy couldn't resist, "So which one's lady and which one's tramp?"

"Looks like they're both tramps." Jennifer added.

Pike left the stool and leaned across the table. Taking Buffy's hand, he added. "Only if you'll be my lady."

He was promptly hit in the arm by Jennifer, who he was leaning across.

"As if." Buffy responded pushing him back.

Pike was pushed off the table and lay on his back by the stool. Looking up at Benny's legs, "She's fiesty."

"Dude, you just got your ass kicked by a girl."

"That's okay... I'm just gonna lie here 'til the food arrives."

The sound of the door opening distracted everyone again. Two guys were standing in the doorway. One was the standard all american blonde quarterback figure, the other was slightly shorter and had darker hair, but was still fairly athletic looking.

Nicole was the first to react. "Jeffrey's here." she said nudging Buffy in the arm.

"Shhh... How'd he know we'd be here?"

"Coincidence?" Nicole added.

"What did you do?"

"Quiet, he's coming over."

"Who's that with him?" Kimberley asked.

"Andy." Jennifer responded.

"You know him?"

Jennifer thought about it, "Bit of a sleeze, but he's on the football squad so I guess that earns him points."

"Better than Grueller." Buffy teased Nicole.

"No way. He's mine, if anyone's." Kimberley said.

"Girls." Jeffrey said stepping over Pike. "There's enough of me for all of you."

"It wasn't you, they were talking about." Jennifer added.

"What?" Jeffrey asked, while Andy thrust his arm back in the 'score' gesture.

"Never mind." Nicole said, getting up and ushering them out of the room.

Pike remained where he was on the floor. "If any of you wearing skirts would like to walk nearer my head, I'd be most grateful."

Kimberley stood on his stomach as she walked past.

"Ooof..." Pike doubled over in pain.

"We would say it was fun but we'd be lying." Buffy commented as she left.

Pike regained his breath, and stood up returning to the table.

"Must be love." Benny commented.

"Yeah... I'm definitely in there."

The chef brought their food out to them, while the waitress was still glaring at Pike.

=====

Manhattan

The short guy seems to be following a bum further and further into an alley. A small boy runs past with a package, the short guy tenses ready to intervene should something happen. The boy passes the bum without incident.

The bum falls against the wall. Coughing heavily he doubles over in the alley.

The short guy maintains his distance, shaking his head he mutters to himself. "How the hell did he even get ill. I didn't know that was possible."

Suddenly the bum starts sniffing the air. Standing up to his full height, he starts scanning his surroundings quickly.

Confused the short guy sniffs the air. Recognising the smell, he comments. "Oh no, not again." Looking up to the sky for guidance he speaks quietly. "You sure this is the guy?"

Pausing to stare for a moment, he seemingly gets his answer. "Well... okay, you're the boss."

The bum starts circling some trash cans, moving them out of the way, pulling a skip away from the wall. Running around the skip, diving into another group of trash cans spilling some over.

"I can't watch this." The short guy mutters to himself.

The bum is chasing his prey through the trash cans, eventually a rat runs out of the rubbish and escapes through the short guys legs.

The bum comes charging out after it. Noticing the other man for the first time, he backs away quickly. The short guy follows the bum into the alley.

The bum notices he's being followed and speaks for the first time, "Look... stay away from me... I'm not hurting anyone... I don't want any trouble."

"You think you could hurt me?"

"Just stay away from me... I'm not safe..."

"You're disgusting is what you are... Jeez, man. Rats?"

"I do wh..."

"And the smell of death that surrounds you... eugh..."

The bum seems to be getting angry now. "Stay away from me..."

The short guy adopts a mocking tone, "What you gonna do? Bite me?"

The bum stares at him, sizing him, "What are y..."

"Here's a freebie." The short guy reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a clear bag that seems to be full of red liquid. He casually tosses it to the bum.

The bum catches it, opens the bag quickly. Sniffing it, "It's not..."

"No. Tell you what, since I bought you dinner, you sit there and eat while I tell you a little story."

=====

Several hours later

Rome

Doug and Marie returned to their hotel. Departing from the taxi, Doug covered his wife in his coat as she cried into his shoulder. Helping her up the stairs to the foyer he paused to ask the receptionist if they'd had any messages. The reply was negative.

Marie continued to cry, as she was gently led towards the elevator. Climbing in, Doug pressed the button for their floor. Entering their room, they noticed a small envelope on the bed.

Opening it, Doug quickly read it.

"Who's it from?" Marie asked, struggling to remove her coat.

Doug quickly came over to help her. "Merrick," he repied as he hung both coats on the hangers. "He's had to leave for a few days, says he'll be back in time for the f... for the funeral."

"When are we having the funeral?" Marie asked tears coming to her eyes again.

"He suggests within the next two days. You know just in case..."

"But that's not enough time, we have family, friends of Annie's to inform."

"We could arrange a private one just to... check... then if it's... okay... we could ship the body back to England for a real one."

Marie wiped her eyes. "I'd prefer that."

"I'll speak to Merrick about it."

"Do that."

"I won't be long."

"Okay."

Marie sat on the bed and ordered some food from room service.

Doug put his coat back on and left the hotel to find a public payphone.

Dialling the number on Merrick's piece of paper.

"'Lo." Came a feminine voice on the other end.

"It's Doug Hanover, Merrick gave me this number."

"He told me to expect your call."

"Where is here?"

"He's checking something out."

"Can you tell me any more?"

"He didn't give me any details."

"Who is this?"

"My name's Amanda, I'm an old friend of Merrick's."

"Ohhh... erm."

"What's wrong, Mr Hanover?"

"I don't know what to do next... I guess Merrick told you about the worr..."

"Yes. It's a standard check. You shouldn't have anything to fear."

"What did Merrick tell you?"

"He asked me to take messages from you and pass them onto him."

"You have his contact details?"

"No. He calls me to check in."

"You're with the council?"

"Almost. Once upon a time. I was kind of... one of his protege's."

"We want to do a quiet unofficial funeral to check. That way once we're sure we can arrange to transport her back to England."

"Of course."

"You'll get Merrick to arrange it."

"I'm sorry to be so blunt, but it won't take much arranging Sir. As for private and unofficial. Only you, Merrick and your wife ever need to know about it."

"Thank you."

"I'll pass on your request, and get him to contact you as soon as he can."

click

Doug looked at the phone for a few seconds before heading back to the hotel.

=====

Manhattan

The bum was shocked, "You want me to go where?"

The short guy shrugged, "That's where she will be going."

"She'll have to be good to be assigned there."

"She doesn't know about her destiny yet. She doesn't even know what she is."

"And she's going there..? Are they insane?"

"There's going to be some strings pulled. But not by the ones your thinking of."

"By whom?"

Leaning against a lamp post the shorter guy admitted. "An old friend of yours."

"They're still there?"

"Where else would they be, where else could he go?"

The tall bum looked frightened, "I can't help her against him."

"He's still out of the game. But he's got some helpers that you could help deal with."

"I couldn't... they'd kill me."

The shorter guy checked him out. "True, in your present condition, you'd be mincemeat in seconds. But there was a time when you could have competed..."

"That wasn't me. That was him!"

"But he could help where you can't."

"I'm not going back to that. I can't."

"I'm not asking you to. I'm telling you, you need to find a happy medium. He was powerful, you're a bum."

"I'll never be ready in time."

"You've got a few months."

"Months?"

"This is a different game you're playing now kid. You up for a roadtrip... I've got something you need to see."

=====

Los Angeles

Buffy stirred in her sleep. The dream she was having seemed so real. She was running, endlessly running, she was being chased. No... she was the one doing the chasing.

She was dressed differently. It seemed like a maid. As she passed a mirror, she knew the face in it didn't resemble hers in any way. It helped calm her down, 'That isn't me.' she figured, 'This must be just a dream.' But in some way, on some level, she also knew it was hers.

Running through a seemingly endless maze of corridors. This girl, that was yet wasn't her, finally approached the front doors. Hearing a scream that sounded like it could have come from a child. The young girl threw herself through the front doors and out into the streets.

Buffy awoke with a start. Sweat pouring off her. Checking to make sure Mr Gordo was still nearby. She turned the light on.

'Streets looked like those out of that 'Oliver' musical', she realised. 'When was that set? Eighteenth, nineteenth century England..?'

Getting out of bed, she walked to the window. Drawing the curtains back, and looking over the street at night. "Why I am dreaming about that... what am I doing in History these days?"

=====

End Issue 3 - Chosen part two.

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