Fic: Ultimate Slayer - Issue 6
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 #6 - Chosen part five
Outside of Rome
Merrick had returned a few hours later, stating he was leaving for America. Before he left, he'd informed Doug and Marie that should they require others to help them tonight, to contact Alessandro directly. They'd politely refused.
They'd waited til morning, then Doug had dropped him off in town, a few moments after the sun had risen.
Merrick walked into a nearby cafe. "Alessandro." he said the manager.
"Merrick. Your custom is most welcome, as always."
"Alessandro, there are some people I need your help with."
"Anything for you, Merrick."
Merrick handed him a copy of the document he'd given Doug, "Firstly, they will need help reaching this ship. They will be taking the body of their deceased daughter back with them."
Alessandro looked sad at the news. "Anything that I can do in their time of need."
"They will need a more suitable coffin."
"I have a cousin, who cou..."
"Their daughter is not at the morgue."
"Why ever not?"
"Remember what almost happened to your daughter?"
"Of course... little Adriana... I am so grateful for your help in th..."
"Remember the girl that aided her. Their daughter was like that."
"Then she shall get the best help I can offer."
Merrick handed him another piece of paper, "One other thing, they are staying at this location, it's on a campsite due East of here. Remember what I said could have also happened to Adriana?"
"Yes."
"Tonight is the final night. They will know tonight, whether she will get to rest easily."
"I'll send up two of my sons to ensure they all survive it."
"Good man... Have you a phone I might use? I need to make travel arrangements."
"Certainly... in the back. It is good to see you again Merrick."
"You too."
=====
Los Angeles
Pike was lounging on the sofa, throwing empty beer cans at his brother. "I can't beleeeve you're gettin thish wasted..."
Dan tried to avoid them, but ending up diving at them. "Says you... onnna school night too... leastch I have the exsqush..." he said from his place on the floor.
"What exscoosh?"
"Noos much works on tomorra."
"Buts the tomorra afta tomorra."
"Yeshh... the... that day... I'll be verys busy."
"I migh go tomorra."
"Work?" Dan asked, finally attempting to sit up.
"Sshcool..." Pike muttered back.
Dan considered standing up, deciding against it, he lifted a crushed can in a toast. "My lasht night of alcoholic joys... for twos week."
Pike raised a half full can, "To Benny... hopes that heez lefts the misery of his mothersh house forevers..."
Dan knocked the drink back, realising it was empty, threw it over his shoulder.
Pike poured too early and ended up wearing half of it.
Dan lifted his hand again, "Tomorra."
"Tomorra."
=====
Manhattan
The tall bum was getting bored, he'd been given a punching bag to keep him entertained. 'A punching bag... what the hell does this guy think I am..?'
The disused building had another new addition as well as the punching bag. That was a fridge that had been installed the day before. It's only contents were the beers that his friend had left behind, and a half finished chinese meal. It also seemed very noisy to his sensitive hearing.
How he'd managed to get electricity in the building, the tall guy would never know. None of the other floors seemed to be getting it.
The shorter guy had found the fridge a few days previously. He'd told the bum to look after it while he fetched his car. 'The car had turned out to be a rustbucket.' But they'd loaded it into the trunk and taken it here. The guy had simply plugged it in, and the fridge light had come on.
"Perfect." Had been the short guys response.
The tall bum, walked over to the fridge again. Lifting his hand up it was apparent that the fridge door wasn't so much connected, as waiting to fall. Pulling the door open, or away as it could technically be called. He reached inside. The chinese food didn't look appetising. He was contemplating having one of the beers simply for something to do when the doors burst open.
"Kid, it's starting."
The tall bum tried to re-arrange the door to its position but it kept slipping off. 'One hinge really wasn't enough,' he figured.
"Kid, did you hear me? It's starting."
"I have no idea what you're talking about. You said I wouldn't be allowed to get involved for months. Not til I was ready." he said still struggling with the door.
"Ignore that." The short guy said, swatting his hand away. "It's all starting now, the key players are starting to get into position."
"That include us?"
"No. But I wanna be there for the beginning, don't you?"
Walking to the fridge the shorter guy, reached in and grabbed his beer. Putting the door back in its place on his first attempt, he moved back to the centre of the room. At the tall guy's look he added with a wink, "It's just a matter of balance."
"This is really something major?"
"Well... yes and no. For you, yes. It's the beginning of your assignment."
"You haven't explained my assignment to me properly yet."
"I told you I can't... something big's coming... and you need to be in position for it. That's all I can say."
"That's not good enough."
"It'll have to do." The short guy took a long look around the room, "Well we won't be needing this place anymore."
As he said that the noise the fridge was making just stopped.
The tall guy walked over to it. Opening the door again, he confirmed that the fridge was no longer working. "How..?"
"I was considering leaving it on, so the other residents could use it... but then I remembered about global warming and all that... would be irresponsible of me."
"Global warming?"
The shorter guy froze, "I haven't let anything slip, have I?" Shaking his head, "Nope, they're aware of it. Just you've been out of the loop for so long."
"Forget that... how did you do that thing with the fri..?"
"No, you forget that. They're just parlour tricks, kid. And who's interested in parlour tricks, when there's a road trip to be taken?"
=====
Rome
The following morning
Merrick was talking on the phone at the airport. "I'll be on a flight in a little while."
The female voice on the other end was displaying signs of disbelief. "You are really coming to America?"
"For the last time, yes."
Merrick could practically hear the smirk, as she asked him. "You gonna visit me, while you're here?"
"I'll try and fit it in."
"I could visit you."
"I don't know where I'll be yet."
Understanding seemed to have dawned at the other end, "Ahhhh... trying to stay ahead of the council eh?"
"You heard about how long Hoshi lasted?"
"That was a shame."
"They didn't know what they are doing."
"And you won't help them learn." She chastised him.
"Just leave it."
"So what do you intend to do when you find the girl?"
Merrick found himself shrugging, even though he knew she couldn't see him do so. "Same as always."
"You don't know many teenage american girls, do you?"
"Teenagers are the same everywhere... how different can it be?"
The voice on the other end started laughing, "Oh God... I wish I could see your face when you... No wait, pick me up. I'll go with you."
"The council would disagree." He argued.
"The council don't agree that you should be going." She countered.
"You're not coming."
"It wouldn't just be to see your face... promise. I'd be helpful... come on... I'm female, I'm closer to their age than you are... I understand them better."
"That's why you cannot come, you'd be more of a friend than a teacher." Merrick patiently explained.
"Maybe she'd need a friend."
"I know she'll need a teacher."
"Maybe she should have both."
"That is not the way... we do not risk the lives of others so willingly."
This argument was an old one, he could tell she wasn't really in the moode for it, when she sighed and informed him to "Have it your own way."
"I shall."
"And remember I'll only be a phone call away."
"As you have always been."
"The offer still stands."
"I know."
"See you in America."
"See you there."
click
Merrick hung up, and made his way to the departure lounge.
=====
Los Angeles
Several hours later.
Pike awoke on the sofa. There was a weight on the back of his legs. Twisting his head to take a look, he noticed it was the table. "Dan must have tipped it on me, last night." He muttered, through a blinding headache.
Spinning around the room, he tried to locate his brother to shout at, or throw something at. There didn't seem to be anyone there. Bracing himself against the sofa he attempted to straighten up. Lifting the table using the back of his legs, he eventually made it.
Standing up wasn't the best idea in the world, so he quickly sat back down. Finally managing to focus on something, he could make out the digits on the video.
"If that's the time, I missed school again." he figured.
Getting up he checked Dan's room, 'definitely must have gone to work.'
Making his way outside, he was about to climb into his van. "Nooo..." he said to himself. "Walk to the shop for aspirin. Definitely better idea."
Making his way down the street, he headed towards the shop and hopefully brain relief.
=====
Same Time
Hemery High
Buffy was with Jeffrey. They were sitting having lunch together. 'Our second lunch,' Buffy thought to herself.
On the opposite side of the table; Kimberley was talking to Andy, who in turn was staring at Nicole. Nicole seemed willing to let Kimberley have the first try.
Jennifer and Simon made an appearance at their table. Jeffrey and Simon nodded at one another. Simon barely acknowledged Andy.
"So..." Simon asked. "What's the pans for tonight?"
"Tonight?" Buffy asked. 'It's a Wednesday, things are always really lame on a Wednesday.'
"Jen said we all might go out and do something together."
"She did?" Kimberley had been the first to crack. Buffy had been expecting it, once Simon had started scanning each of their faces for some recognition.
"Course she did." Nicole chipped in. "We just haven't decided what yet."
"Cinema?" Buffy threw out a suggestion.
"No chick flicks." Andy replied.
"Could go the arcade?" Jeffrey suggested, Buffy resisted pulling her face at that idea.
"Food?" Nicole tried.
"Not Reno's." Jennifer and Kimberley commented at the same time.
"Could go into the city?" Simon tried to make it more exciting.
"Probably run into my parents." Buffy muttered to herself.
"Wouldn't be worth it, got a curfew." Jennifer explained.
"So... what is there to do that's interesting these days?" Kimberley asked.
Nicole smiling at Simon added. "So you see our dilema."
"There is nothing interesting to do at night." Simon admitted.
'You got that right.' Buffy thought. 'Can't wait til I'm twenty one... or at least old enough to pass for twenty one.'
=====
New York
Merrick arrived at the arrivals gate. He'd gotten through customs fairly easily. Anything specific he wanted he'd have to get delivered through back channels.
'Not that I've actually got any back channels here.' He thought, 'I've had stuff delivered from the States when I've needed it, but never to it.'
Looking around, he saw a lot of armed police and security. 'Country never grew out of it's Wild West mentality... and she wonders why I've avoided coming.'
Hurrying past people, he made his way outside.
Checking to ensure he had any American dollars, he got to the taxi rank.
"Where to?"
Pulling some paper out of his pocket he gave the driver three addresses, "Which is the closest?" he asked.
"Well... that's a matter of opin..."
"Fifty dollars, flat fee, to take me to the one that is the closest."
"Why didn't you say so?" The driver started his engine and headed out of the airport.
"Then I'll need you to wait while I make some purchases."
For a further fifteen minutes the driver, took him deeper into New York. He didn't really have any sense of where they'd come from.
'How do people live here? How do they navigate?' he thought as he went past another set of buildings that all looked the same, with only subtle differences. A quick check at the stars showed they were heading south.
Eventually, the driver pulled up at a set of houses. "So where is it?" He impatiently asked.
"Where's what?"
"I'm looking for..."
"I know what you said you were looking for, it's down there." The driver pointed to a dark alley.
"Dammit, I'm unarmed." he muttered.
"In this neighbourhood, wouldn't matter if you were armed or not. They'd shoot you down dead. I don't like to stay long."
Merrick passed a note through the window, "Here's a twenty."
"You said fifty."
"This is to make sure you wait. You'll get the rest once I'm done."
"That it?"
"Then I need you to take me to some earth."
"Some what?"
"A field... grass... dirt... mud... I need to be in contact with the ground... natural ground. Preferably somewhere where there aren't many people."
"Sure... but you're looking at Central Park... and the people in there at this time of night. Not ones you want to deal with."
Merrick left the cab and ventured down the street.
The cabbie waited, nervously looking around to make sure no-one surprised him. After a few minutes there was a noise in the alley. The driver looked on, putting his car in gear he was ready to make a fast exit should he need to.
Luckily is was Merrick that came out.
"Any trouble?"
Merrick looked distracted, placing a couple of bags on the seat next to him. "What?"
"I asked, did you run into any trouble sir?"
"No... not much."
The cabbie started the car and moved away. Some time later, they arrived outside Central Park.
Merrick leaned forward and handed him a hundred. "Want me to wait?" the cabbie asked eagerly.
"Not this time, no. I might be some time yet."
With that Merrick, left the cab with his belongings and climbed over the nearest wall.
The cabbie watched in disbelief and the pulled off looking for another fare. "Night time definitely brings out the crazies."
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End Issue 6 - Chosen part five.
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