Sorry for the delay everyone: my computer went on the blink three times in two weeks, and that kind of put a dent in my creative output as I'm now relegated to my old 288.
We're also going to go a little more AU than before, but it's my story, and I'll write what I think works best. You are free to disagree, but nothing short of brown envelopes stuffed with £50 notes will stop me.
The Sunnydale Connection (Part 4)
Mathilda was yet again relegated to the back porch for her after-dinner cigarette, and leaned against the railing, blowing smoke into he cool Twighlight air. She sighed quietly: Buffy had spent the entire day watching her, waiting for her to slip up, and then gotten into a major argument with Kennedy and stormed out, leaving Faith in charge.
"May be you should kill her?" A voice from behind asked softly.
"What the hell?" Mathilda span round, and the cigarette dropped from her mouth, "Léon?"
"Yes, it's me." The tall, shorthaired man smiled, "It has been too long, no?"
"You're dead: you died in the explosion!"
"Do you really think I'd be caught in something so simple? I told you I wanted to live..."
"Don't even think about it!" Mathilda had her pistols drawn and pointing forward in a fraction of a second, "I know who you are: you're The First, the other s told me about you?"
"The first what? The first man who you fell in love with?"
"Léon's dead: he died in New York ten years ago."
"You always were a smart one." The spectre smiled, "You really think theses little girls playing at being heroes?"
"I don't seam to have much choice, do I?"
"There are always choices: I could use someone like you, someone with your 'talents' to help me deal with a few other troublesome individuals who try and stand in my way."
"If you're so powerful, why don't you deal with them yourself?"
"I'm non-corporeal: I can't touch them." The First smiled, "You on the other hand, have a chance to survive the coming apocalypse, maybe even end up as one of my Generals when my arms rise up and concur this world."
"Thanks, but no thanks: I may be a killer, but I'm not evil."
"We'll see..." The First vanished.
"Who you talking too M?" Faith appeared in the doorway behind thePotential.
"What?" Mathilda span round, gun pointing at the Slayers head, then dropped it to her side immediately, "Sorry; you startled me."
"Seeing someone who couldn't possibly be there huh?"
"Yeah..."
"Don't worry: The First dose it too us all." Faith shrugged, "I see a guy I used to work for, Willow saw some kid who died a while back, Dawn saw her mom, Andrew saw a dead friend of his and Buffy and Spike see themselves. I'm sure the others have seen something, but it's gotten them all a little freaked out so they don't talk about it."
"You seam to be able to accept it?"
"The way I see it, it's my turn to die stopping an apocalypse, so what's the point worrying." Faith shook herself, "Anyway: we think we've found a weapons cash set up by The First agents, and we're going to go raid it. You want to come?"
"Yeah." Mathilda smiled, "Who else is going to watch your back?"
Mathilda coughed, the dust from the explosions catching in her throat.
It had been a classic booby-trap, something she should have seen a mile off, but she'd walked into it the same as the others. She kicked herself mentally: she'd spent ten years training and working as a professional killer. Just because she was up against vampires and daemons didn't mean she could let her guard down.
Pulling herself into a sitting position, she checked herself for injuries and made sure she still had her weapons; the long sword she'd taken to carrying was still in her hand, and she could feel the weight of her 9mm's pulling down on her shoulders as they sat in their holster.
The others where also moving, pulling themselves together and helping those less fortunate. A body with long brunet hair caught her attention. She brushed the hair to the side to find Faith lying on the ground, apparently unconscious, and most defiantly hurt. Knowing that moving the Slayer could do more damage, Mathilda decided that getting her back to the Summer's house was more important, and so gently lifted her up and over one shoulder.
The tunnel leading back up to the street was full of smoke and dust, and Mathilda had to slowly maker her way along so as not to trip on the rubble-strewn floor. The other Potentials where also moving in the same direction, the general desire to get back to the relative safety of Buffy's house an unspoken agreement.
There was a blur of movement and a Turok-Han leaped down the stairs in front of them, followed by another behind.
Swallowing hard, Mathilda held her sword at the ready.
To Be Continued...