Fic: Ultimate Slayer - Issue 8

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)

Ultimate Slayer #8 - Training part one

Los Angeles
Later that night

Buffy had had yet another restless sleep. These had been going on for the last few nights now. She was sleeping less and less each night. And when she did sleep she had strange dreams, of being chased and of chasing others.

'There sure is a lot of running going on in my sleep these days, if this continues I'll be expecting to lose a few pounds.' She thought, clutching Mr Gordo.

This last dream had freaked her out completely. This time she got to see the faces on some of the monsters, they reminded her of that film 'The Lost Boys'. Though admittedly the monster's deaths had been less spectacular.

She recalled the one she'd had the previous night. That one had involved someone, that could easily have been that stalker guy in his youth.

'I hate that subconscious crap...' she thought, 'some weirdo talks about vampires, and I have dreams about them, and about him... talk about your brain going loopy. Strange how he appeared in the dream the night before I met him though...'

She wrote it off, if he was a stalker, then she'd probably seen him around. 'Dammit subconscious, you could have told me you knew he was there.'

She curled up in her bed. Hugging Mr Gordo to her, she decided she'd tell her father about the man first thing.

Los Angeles
Same Time

"Pikkkkeee!!!!! Piiikkkkeeee!!!!" A voice called from the window.

"Dan... fuckoff..." Pike mumbled, turning over in his bed.

"Piiiikkkkeeeee!!!! Wanna come out to play?"

Pike lifted his head off the pillow. "Benny..? Is that you..?"

"Piiikkkkeee!!!!"

Pike lifted himself off his bed, walking over to the window he looked outside. Benny was standing on his drive. "Benny... where you been, man?"

Benny noticed Pike at the window. "Pike. I need a drink man."

"I ain't got any."

Climbing on their garage, Benny quickly made his way to Pike. "You have."

"I swear... we got none in." Pike noticed how pale he looked. "Are you okay?"

"Just let me in, Pike."

Pike looked past him, scanning the ground. "Where've you been? You're not bringing any women back here again. Dan would flip."

Now Benny was starting to lose his temper, "Fuck Dan."

Pike smiled, "No thanks."

"Let. Me. In." Benny instructed.

Benny's attitude was starting to piss Pike off now. "Dude, you really need to chill out. Go home... I'll speak to you in the morning."

Suddenly Benny's face changed. Ridges grew on his forehead, his teeth seemed longer and he seemed more animal like. "Let me fucking in!" He shouted at the window.

As soon as the change began, Pike'd leapt back onto his own bed. "Fucking Hell Christ... what the fuck happened to you man?"

Benny prowled across the window from side to side. "I'm thirsty."

Pike stayed as far into the room as he could. Grabbing his baseball bat from under the bed, he weilded it in front of him. "Don't fucking come in man... I'm serious... just go away."

Benny smiled at him. "Little Pikey doesn't want to play. I'll have to go find some other fun then."

With that, he jumped down from the garage and ran off down the street.

Pike hesistantingly walked back to the window. Keeping a tight grip on the bat, he peered outside to confirm Benny was gone. Satisfied, he walked backwards til he reached his bed, eyes never leaving the window he asked aloud. "What the fucking hell just happened here?"

The following morning

Both her parents had left by the time she got up, so she'd been unable to speak to them. Buffy had made herself breakfast and was waiting for Nicole to arrive.

She was sitting on the sofa, thinking about her nightmares when the honk of a horn, brought her out of her thoughts. Quickly heading out she climbed into Nicole's car. "You wouldn't believe what happened to me yesterday."

Same Time

"You wouldn't believe what happened last night." Pike announced, as he entered the kitchen.

"You got wasted and lay around the house doing nothing?" His brother asked.

"No... well yeah... but after that."

"Do I get points for guessing correctly?" Dan poured them each a cup of coffee.

Pike gratefully took his coffee from his brother, "Benny turned up."

Sipping his own drink, Dan asked. "So... where'd he been this time?"

"I dunno... he was different."

"Sober?" Dan asked with a smirk.

"No... he was more... how to put this... animal-like." Pike attempted.

Dan turned to face him. With a serious look on his face he asked, "All joking aside... are you trying to tell me something?"

"Ewww... nothing like that. It seemed like he really wanted to kill me."

"Well I've thought that a few times myself. About both of you."

"No." Pike said sharply. "Like if he'd got in through the window... he would really have killed me. And then probably moved onto yourself."

"He'd come near me at night, and I'd beat the shit out of him on general principle."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

"Dan..."

Dan sighed, "Look if he really wanted to attack you, why didn't he just break the window down?"

Pike admitted, "I don't know."

"He was probably high or something... or you were and you imagined it all."

"Just... I don't know... but if you see Benny again... just be wary of him, okay?."

"Dude, the guy couldn't take you in fight. If he tries..."

"Dan... last night. Last night, there was a confidence in Benny that I haven't seen before. He wasn't challenging me, or just thinking he could take me. He really thought he could do it."

"As I said, probably on something."

"Dan..."

"But if I see him... I'll look out... okay?"

"Thanks."

Hemery High
Lunchtime

Buffy was sitting talking to Jeffrey. Jennifer and Simon were in the seat opposite. On the table next to them, Buffy watched as Nicole was trying to ignore Andy, while Kimberley was trying to get his attention from the opposite side of their table.

'Boys are so stupid.' She thought to herself.

Nicole suddenly became very animated, standing up and waving to someone in the background. Buffy turned away from the table to see who Nicole was calling over.

'It's that guy...' she thought to herself. 'From the cinema, and the diner.'

"Hey," Pike said as he walked over, "You mind?".

"Feel free," Nicole suggested, waving a hand towards the free chair.

Pike took it and sat down next to Kimberley.

Buffy looked confused, 'Why was this guy joining them? Sure, he'd been amusing and all... but sitting at their table.' She shared a glance with Kimberley, who looked as lost as she did.

Pike turned to face Jeffrey. "Thanks for the save, man."

Buffy looked between the newcomer and her boyfriend.

"No problems." Was Jeffrey's response.

"Sorry, your friend got injured." Pike said, gesturing towards Andy. Andy looked annoyed at the implication, that he'd been the one that'd lost their individual fight.

"Was more worried about when the guy hit my girl." Jeffrey acknowledged.

'God,' Buffy thought to herself, 'Was so worried about being caught fighting, that I completely forgot why we'd ended up in the fight in the first place.' "It didn't hurt too much," she explained, "and luckily, no bruise."

Pike smiled at her, "Sorry about that. So you guys first years then?"

"Yeah." Andy said, challengingly.

"Pretty brave of you to fight those guys. They're in the final year. Like me."

Andy beamed and puffed out his chest. Jeffrey just nodded his acknowledgement of the compliment.

"Why were they attacking you?" Nicole asked curious.

'Her voice was a little excited there.' Buffy realised to herself.

"No real reason. Just some pricks I used to know."

"I've never skipped school before." She added. "I thought we'd get into lots of trouble."

"I have." Andy added, trying to get into the conversation.

'Give in...' Buffy thought. 'Let her go, and concentrate on Kim.'

"Don't worry about it." He grinned at her, "Here's some free advice from someone who's skipped enough school to warrant being kept back a year. Some teachers notice, others don't... That you can work out by seeing if they remember to question other people that you know have skipped a lesson or three. They only really look at your attendance records if your grades start to slip."

"Thanks, I'll remember that." Nicole beamed back.

"I knew that." Andy added.

"And unless times have changed since my day." Pike added, "I know most of the teachers you can still get away with it for."

"That'll be useful." Nicole smiled.

After school
Girl's locker room

Buffy had just finished getting changed, "So Nicole... you after Pike then?"

"What..?" Nicole asked pulling on her t-shirt.

"I'm just saying, you were extremely friendly earlier."

"It was just a way to get Andy off my case."

"Oh..." Buffy looked disappointed.

"Annndddd... I guess he is kinda cute." she confessed.

"And a senior too." Buffy commented.

Nicole finished putting her coat on, "I think I've had enough of boys... might try a man for a while."

"You sure he'd be interested?"

"Seemed willing to flirt back."

"True," Buffy conceded. "But he is older... what if he expects you to... you know."

"Hmmmm... I might consider it."

"You slut!" Buffy laughed.

"Well, it'd be better than losing it to someone who's just fumbling away."

Buffy shook her head, "I don't believe you sometimes."

"Ha ha..." Nicole smiled, taking in Buffy's state she asked. "You ready?"

"Almost... be ready in a few." Buffy informed, heading towards the toilets.

"I'll go get the car." Nicole responded.

"Watch out for creepy guys in trenchcoats." Buffy reminded her, as she disappeared round the corner.

"I don't think that'll happen today... But if I do see anyone matching that description I'll walk in the opposite direction." Nicole shouted as she left the locker room to head towards her car.

Buffy quickly finished up and began to head after her. She had just stepped out of the locker room, when a powerful hand clasped round her mouth and dragged her back in.

Merrick had spotted the girls whilst they'd been practising their cheerleading moves. 'What is it with Americans and the need to have their ego stroked... I mean, they're only running around a field chasing a ball. It's a manner of keeping fit and nothing more.'

Counting the girls that had entered, and later those that left he'd realised luck was on his side. She's the last one. With that he waited by the entrance for the door to open.

As soon as it did, he grabbed her both round the waist and over the mouth to stop her screaming for aid. Dragging her back inside, he was careful to keep both her feet off the ground, and her arms pinned to her side. 'Not giving her chance for a repeat performance of yesterday.' He thought to himself. Thinking that if she had even the slightest clue what she was capable of, a manouver such as this would never work.

He managed to get her as far in as the benches before trouble had hit.

Having to walk past the lockers, had meant that her feet now had something to aim for. Instinctively kicking out and making contact with one row of lockers, the girl had managed to get both her feet placed on the locker opposite. Merrick realised the second that her legs had braced against the metal doors, that he was in trouble.

Her push had driven them both backwards over one of the benches. The lockers had fallen in the opposite direction and made a resounding crash.

As they'd landed, with the girl on top of him, Merrick had gotten his wind knocked out of him. Unfortunately, that meant for a brief instant, he slightly lapsed his grip on the girl's arms. She'd taken full advantage of it. Feeling an elbow in his ribs, he instinctively curled up to protect himself. She'd gotten up and began screaming. As she was backing away from him, he noticed her eyes were scanning the room, looking for any possibility of escape. If he hadn't been holding his ribs on the floor, he'd probably have felt quite proud. Getting to his feet, he realised why she was trapped. The door to the hallway was behind him, and the one to the gym was now blocked by the fallen set of lockers. Realising that her only way out was through him, she'd paused.

Putting his hands up open in an attempt to calm her down, he began talking. "I'm not here to hurt you."

She began screaming for help again.

'Dammit, this might bring attention to us.' he thought. "I'm not here to hurt you. What I said yesterday is true. You are the Vampire Slayer."

Her eyes scanned his. Unsure what she could be looking for he continued. "You are the latest in a long line of girls to accept the mantle of champion."

"Go away... my boyfriend is so going to kick your ass." she answered defiantly.

"You scare me more than he does." He answered truthfully. "Far more."

"Please don't hurt me... I'm not... I'm just..."

"I'm not here to hurt you."

"In that case let me go."

"You're free to go whenever you want to."

"You're in the way."

"You don't have to get past me..." he gestured towards the other door. "Simply lift the lockers and walk out that way."

The girl looked at them doubtfully. "Are you insane..?"

"I don't know... are you having the nightmares?" It was going rather well, he figured. He hadn't been hurt too much and the last question had caused her expression to betray her inner thoughts.

"No..."

"You are, aren't you? About another girl... one who faces unspeakable demons during the night. Others like her... lots of different dreams about lots of different girls, who all do the same thing."

"What did you do to me..? The nightmares prove nothing..."

"No... but I was led here... to you. You passed the first test with the gem... and the nightmares you have seen for yourself. There's only one left now."

"What..?" She asked, as he put a hand into his pocket.

He threw the dagger as fast as he could. He had aimed slightly to the left of her, so that if she failed the test it would not hurt her. That was what his father had taught him. He needn't have worried.

Catching it in her right hand, she was in front of him within a second. "You threw a knife at my head."

"And you caught it..." He waited for that to sink in.

He should have been paying more attention. He never saw her left fist as she reacted in anger.

Groaning from where he lay at the bottom of the wall. He opened his eyes to see her still standing there. Knife in her right hand. Staring at her left. Repeatedly, opening her palm, then forming a fist. She just stood there, staring at her own hand, twisting her wrist to see it from all angles.

Deciding the danger was over he groaned as he forced himself to his feet. He swore he heard her mumble something.

"Pardon?" he asked.

"I said, I've never hit anyone before." She continued to examine her knuckles, "I thought it might hurt."

"It did." He replied.

"But I'm right handed..."

Smiling he thought to himself, 'That's what shocks her, she knocks a grown man five feet across a room and she's surprised cos she did it with the wrong hand.' He pointed at her right, where she still grasped the knife. "I'm glad you didn't."

She nodded. "My friend'll be back soon." Was all she said.

He nodded in understanding, "You should go... it'll arouse less suspicion."

She made her way to leave. Handing him his knife back as she passed. "I'm Merrick..." he said offering out his hand. "I am your Watcher. And you are my Slayer."

"Buffy... Buffy Summers." she replied, taking his hand. "What does that mean?"

"Are you able to come out tonight..? After dark..? We can meet anywhere you want... but we have to do so alone."

She gulped, still not sure what to make of everything, "I guess..."

"Then I'll show you..."

She nodded and opened the door as to leave, pausing before she did so. "Tell me where we're going and I'll meet you there."

"The cemetary."

She let the door swing closed as she left.

Merrick put his knife back in his pocket. Moving over to the fallen lockers, he attempted to lift it several times before giving up. 'Should have got her to help me put these back,' he thought as he walked out.

"God knows... she's got the muscle to do it." He mumbled as he held his jaw.

End Issue 8 - Training part one.