Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow
Note: Sorry for the delay, been a bit busy with school and napping as a result of school. Yeah, so here's the next chapter. As ever, thanks for the reviews and keep 'em coming!
Previously:
"I don't know what I'd do without you," Faith admitted, burying her face in Buffy's neck.
Buffy sighed, resting her head on Faith's shoulder. "I know what you mean."
...................
"I don't think I've ever been happier to see anyone in my life," she said as Kara helped her stumble out over the debris of the door. "What's with your eyes?"
"Don't ask," Kara said wearily. Then she helped Jack crawl out as well.
Chapter Thirty-Eight:
"I don't like it," Kennedy said, taking a sip from her coffee. Kara looked over at her. They were sitting at one of the outside tables at the coffee shop.
"No one likes more demons," Kara said nonchalantly. Kennedy raised an eyebrow.
"As slayers, aren't we supposed to? I mean, that's our whole job, right? The killing of the demons. The more demons there are, the more killing we get to do," Kennedy reasoned. Kara laughed.
"Well, when you say it that way," she responded. Demons had been pouring into Sunnydale ever since Caleb arrived with more of the First's harbingers. The First was rapidly gaining strength. However, more potentials had arrived, bunking in the house across the street from Buffy. The Scooby gang had all but moved into Buffy's house, with people sleeping anywhere they could. The residents of Sunnydale were starting to get anxious and the exodus had almost begun. Of course, that just meant shorter lines at the coffee shop.
"So what's the plan for tonight?" Kennedy asked, relieved that she had finally been included in the Scooby gang. Though she wasn't necessarily in the inner circle, ever since Kara saved her and Jack in the cemetery, she had insisted Kennedy come to all the meetings and training sessions. Jack was still training the other potentials and all hope had been lost for Robson. No one had heard from him for nearly a week. Xander and Anya had returned from San Francisco several days ago, ready to get back into the swing of fighting evil.
"There's a weapon called the Scythe. It's supposed to be wielded by the slayer, namely, Buffy. Though, Faith could wield it too, technically. Caleb's holding it at his compound," Kara explained.
"His compound?"
"He's holed up in an old vineyard. The weapon's stuck into this big rock," Kara said.
"Kinda like the sword in the stone, huh?" Kennedy said laughing. "Always liked that story."
Kara smiled. "Yeah, that would be it. While we're sneaking into Caleb's place, Faith is gonna go to the high school with a second group to sniff out the bringers and monitor the Hellmouth. We don't want it opening without us knowing about it," Kara said.
"Gotta be active, not passive," Kennedy stated. "I like it."
Kara nearly snorted out her coffee. "Yeah, I figured you would."
..................
"Alright guys, here's the deal," Faith said to the group surrounded her outside the high school. They were hiding across the street, monitoring the building. Thus far, only a few bringers had gone in. No one had come out. Spike, Callum, Giles, Jack, and three potentials were with her. Buffy had taken Kara, Xander, Kennedy, Willow, and two other potentials. Anya, Tara, and Dawn were waiting at the Summers house.
"We go in, check the Hellmouth out, and then leave. Do not engage the bringers unless they attack us first. Everyone clear? This is for information gathering only," Faith stressed.
"Let's get this show on the road," Spike said enthusiastically. The group stealthily crept across the street. Pausing under one of the classroom windows, Callum pulled out some tools Xander had loaned him, and began to work. After a few minutes, he popped the window out.
"Where'd you learn that?" Jack asked, ever intrigued by the young Englishman.
Callum smiled sadly. His father, Jack, had been the one to teach him all of the rather streetwise and illegal things he knew how to do. "An old friend," Callum replied, looking over at the man and smiling.
One by one, the group crawled into the window. The school was dark; the only light coming in was through the windows from the streetlamps. Signaling, Faith ordered the group to move forward. Silently, they crept through the school building. They could hear noise from below, most likely the bringers working on the Hellmouth. But they hadn't seen anyone. "Uh, guys?" Callum said suddenly. Turning around, Faith shot him a glare.
"What?" She hissed.
"Someone's following us," Callum said, motioning back. Several feet behind, standing in the shadows, was a group of bringers.
"Well, shit," Spike muttered.
......................
Buffy kicked open the door of the vineyard. Wood splintered across the room and the bringers that were stationed there turned suddenly toward the group standing just outside. "I thought we were going for subtlety?" Kennedy whispered over at Kara.
"Yeah, me too," Kara said, shrugging. "You don't really tell Buffy what to do though."
"Hey," Buffy said, walking into the room. "You must be Caleb. I've heard oh so much about you," she said cheerily. Kara almost expected her to shake his hand.
"You must be the slayer," Caleb said, walking forward as well.
"A slayer," Buffy clarified. "There's actually three of us."
"That would be our cue," Kara said, grabbing Kennedy by the arm and pulling her away into the shadows. Sneaking around the wall, they finally spotted the trap door. Ripping it open, Kara and Kennedy slid down into a small room, lit by torches. In the center of the room, was the rock with the Scythe sticking out of it.
"That's really cool," Kennedy said, eyeing the weapon appreciatively. Kara stood back and gazed at it as well.
"Kinda makes ya hot," she muttered. Kennedy burst out laughing beside her.
"Well, let's get this bad boy and get the hell home," Kennedy said. She and Kara stepped forward. Reaching out, Kara ran her hand down the weapon, marveling at how cold and smooth it was. Then, with one swift motion, she ripped it out of the rock.
"I wanna test it out."
..................
"Okay, running would be a good plan right about now," Giles yelled out. They were nearly surrounded by bringers and more were coming.
"I concur," Jack said.
"Alright, everybody back out!" Faith yelled, punching a bringer in the face. He went down hard and Faith could hear his skull crack against the tile floor. She grimaced slightly, wondering what damage she had done. Then she started running with the others. They rounded a bend and burst into an empty classroom, closing the door behind them.
"Get a window out," Faith ordered to Callum as she held the door shut, pressing it back with all of her weight. Callum went to work and Spike started looking around the room.
It looked like a biology classroom, with lab tables set up and instruments strewn about the bookcases. He stopped by one of the tables. A box was sitting on it. Opening it slowly, he sucked in a breath. "Guys?" He said calmly, too calmly. Faith looked over at him.
"What is it?" She asked, as the others turned toward him.
"Bomb."