Disclaimer: I own nothing from Dark Angel, BTVS, Angel, or Underworld.
Reviewers:
Julie: Thanks hon. I know, It would be perfect!
astacia: I'm glad you like it. LOL I thought there weren't enough of these crossovers. (which I live for! LOL) I'm glad you like Sonja. I wanted her to have a lot of personality. Well, got some Dark Angel coming for ya in this chapter; but I'm not sure if the kids are gonna be in it yet. I need to put the pulse in first. I'm glad you liked WIllows meeting with Fred. You're a twin? That's cool. I know a family that has three sets. LOL
Samantha: Well sorry about that; but I am a huge Buffy/Spike shipper and I just can't stand what they did on the show. I am planning on brining them in on the story again; but I'll go easy on the smoochies. LOL I'm glad you are enjoying it otherwise.
Gflea: Thanks! I love Buffy and Spike as a couple. I never could abide her with Angel. You're right Spike is funnier. I do love to watch him annoy the pants off of the broodmaster.(And pretty much everyone else now that I think of it!) Glad you liked the battle. It was hell writing that, so I'm happy it was appreciated.
Shane Savio: I'm glad you think so. Yeah, I can't wait for the sequel! I am so excited to see what happens! You can send on the link if you want to. I'll put it up on my author page for others who are interested. I liked Amelia a lot too; but I don't think she'd fit into what I have planned for this. Anyway, thanks for the words of praise! They're always appreciated.
qwerty: No you guys rule! If I hadn't got such nice comments from you all I probably would have given up. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 21. Pulse Point LA2009 Sonja watched as her neighborhood fell into shambles. The power had been gone for a week now, and people were beginning to riot.
Her parents had warned her not to go far from the apartment building. They knew she was well able to care for herself, having developed into a full fledged hybrid. It really wasn't her they were concerned about, she knew. It was whoever decided she looked like an easy target.
She was perched on the roof, watching the humans duke it out. The police were having a rough time of it, to say the least. They'd had to resort to gas to dispell the rioters the day before, adn it was looking the same today.
She heard a footstep behind her and turned to see her father.
"Hi dad."
"Hi princess." He replied, coming up next to her. "They're still at it I see."
She nodded. "Looks like they're gonna have to gas again."
"The mail finally came. You got a letter." He handed her the thick envelope and she smiled in delight when she saw it was from Spike.
"Thanks for bringing it up here." She said, tearing it open.
Little luv, Just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how things have been going.
Buffy and I are in Italy now. We're making rounds to all the slayer schools.
It's beautiful here. You'll have to come and see when school is over. I'm sure your parents would like to come too.
Sonja sighed. He obviously had written this before the pulse happened. She looked at the envelope. Yes, it was dated two days before. She would love to go to Europe; but the chances were slim to none that she could go. She went on.
I included some pictures for you. I know you don't recognise all the people in them; but I did my best to identify everyone. Well, best be off before Buffy decides I'm being lazy and puts me in charge of something again. I shudder to think what she will come up with next.
Sonja laughed, remembering Spikes despairing letter when Buffy had made him do laundry for the entire school. That had ended when Spike had shrunk a favorite shirt of hers. No doubt on purpose. She looked back down at the letter.
If you see Fred, tell her I said 'Allo, and make sure you say it like that too. She should get a kick out of that. Much love,
Spike
Sonja took out the pictures and gazed at the faces on them. There were several of Spike and Buffy goofing off and having what looked to be a great time. She finished shuffling through them and looked back down at the chaos of the street. Yes, it would be lovely to go to Europe.
Seattle
Max walked down the street in the pajamas that she had been wearing for a week now. They were terribly dirty and smelly. She was looking for somewhere to get new clothes. She had shoes, which she had put on before she left Lucys. She also had a coat, which she had found in a dumpster. It was worn; but good enough.
She felt badly for leaving the other girl. She knew what her father was doing to her; but Lucy would never survive out here like Max could. She couldn't keep thinking about it. She had to find some clothes and some food.
A man was walking towards her in what must have been a very nice suit at one time. Max looked at the ground. She didn't want anyone to notice her. She didn't want to go to another home with an abusive foster parent. She was strong. She could make it on her own.
The man saw her and said, "Hey kid, what are you doing out here?" HIs voice was kind; but Max was still wary.
Max looked at him with only her eyes raised. "N-nothing." She stammered. Being able to speak at her leisure to adults was new to her. She'd only spoken to her siblings freely. The rest of the time it was "Yes sir, or no sir, or some other required response.
"Nothing huh? Hey, are you wearing pajamas?"
Max nodded, looking at the ground.
The man stared at her for a second before saying. "Look, I'm not gonna turn you in, okay? I know where you can get some clothes."
Max looked up skeptically.
"Really. I swear. I'm not going to hurt you."
Max nodded in acceptance. He wouldn't be able to hurt her anyway; but he didn't know that.
"Come on." He turned around and waited for her to follow him.
She began walking a little behind him and he turned to look at her. "What's your name?"
"Max."
"Max what?" He prompted.
"I don't have a last name." She replied. She'd learned quickly that people didn't like that, and had made up a story. "Some people found me wandering around. I didn't know anything but my first name. I got put into a foster home; but the man I lived with was really mean. I ran away the night it happened."
"The pulse you mean?"
She nodded.
"Look Max, not all places are like that. There are some good people I know that would take care of you." He paused and then asked, "The man that you were with, he hit you?"
She shook her head. "Not me, Lucy."
"Lucy?"
"HIs daughter. He did other stuff to her too." Max blushed, embarrased that she had admitted that. She was embarassed for Lucy, and herself.
The man seemed to get angry. "What is this mans' name? Where do they live?"
Max told him.
"Don't you worry about Lucy now. I'm going to Social Services with this."
Max blanched.
"Easy. I won't tell them about you. I used to be a policeman, so they'll listen to me. No, you come along and get yourself some new clothes. Then, if you want to, we'll go and see the people I was telling you about."
She relaxed and nodded. "They'll really help Lucy?" She asked timidly.
"They will." The man assured her. "My name's Jim Lowell by the way."
He and Max walked for another few minuets before he led her into a building. There were lots of people around. Max tried to look everywhere at once, feeling a little threatned.
"It's allright. The people here help victims of the pulse."
Max noticed a lot of children in the place. They were playing and running around happily. She saw people handing out clothing and food. Maybe people weren't as bad as she had thought.
Jim led her to the line and a kind looking woman appraised her before handing her a pair of used; but nice jeans. Then she selected a shirt and gave her socks and underwear.
"There's showers in that room over there." She said, pointing. "You might have a little bit of a wait to get in; but it's worth it to be clean."
Max nodded. "Thank you."
"Not at all dear." The woman replied, giving Max a smile. "If those clothes don't fit right, you come back and I'll give you something else."
Max nodded and turned to go to the shower room. She was overwhelmed by these poeples kindness. No one had ever treated her like this before.
When she was done washing, she dried off and put on the clothes that the woman had given her. Everything fit well enough and she smiled in happiness to be clean again.
She threw her old pajamas in a garbage can and ventured back out into the main room. Jim was speaking to the kind lady. The woman smiled when she saw Max.
"You look much more comfortable in those." She said to Max. "I bet you're hungry. What would you like? We have peanut butter and jelly sandwitches, grilled cheese, chicken soup, tomoato soup..."
"Peanut butter and jelly." Max said shyly.
"What kind of soup?"
"Chicken."
"Come on then." She held her hand out to Max. "My name is Ashley."
Max hesitantly took the womans hand. "I'm Max."
Soon afterwards she was eating a big bowl of hot soup and a PBJ. Ashley was watching her.
She looked up questioningly. Was she doing something wrong?
Suddenly Ashley said, "Max would you like to come and stay with me? I have a daughter a little younger than you and I know she'd love it if you came to live with us."
Max must have looked scared, because Ashely quicky said, "If you don't like it, you don't have to stay. I was just thinking you shouldn't be out there all alone. You should have a safe place to come home to, and go to school. You think about it while you eat." She patted Maxs' hand.
Max watched her go back to her positon at the clothing table. She liked Ashley. It sounded like a really nice idea. She decided to go against her training and accept. After all, her training wasn't worth much out here. It was nice to be able to protect herself; but she had no way to care for herself otherwise.
When Ashely came back Max accepted her offer.
LA
Sonja was on the roof again. The night was chilly and she decided to go inside. She climbed down using the fire escapes to get to her living room window.
Her parents looked up from the couch. Her mother frowned at her over the novel she was reading by candlelight.
"Sonja you should come in through the building. Someone might see you out there climbing the building like a monkey. That's all we need."
"I want to go somewhere else, mom." Sonja said dejectedly. Somewhere where we don't have to hide all the time."
Her father looked down at her mother and smiled.
Michael smiled down at the top of Selenes' head. "She sounds like you did. All that time ago when you wanted to go and run free in the jungle." He thought to her.
Selene scowled at him. "And you remember how that ended up?"
He sighed. "Yes I certainly do."
Sonja hated it when her parents had their silent discussions. "Would you guys talk out loud please?" She said Irritably.
Michael laughed at his daughters irritated expression. "Sorry. Come on you guys, lets go to the Hyperion and visit with Angel and Fred."
Sonja smiled. "Good. Maybe Uncle Angel is in the mood to spar. I am."
Max, Two months later
Max dropped her bookbag on the couch and walked into the kitchen. "Ashley? Cara? Hello, are you guys home?"
Max knew something was wrong. She could feel it in her stomach. She had been living with Ashley and Cara for two months now and they were always there to greet her when she came home from school. The kitchen was a complete shambles. There were papers and food strewn everywhere.
Her manticore training was screaming at her to get out. Someone dangerous could still be there; but she had to know if her surrogate family was okay.
She walked slowly down the hall, making no noise. Her feline DNA allowed her to be silent as well as fast and agile. She saw the bathroom door was partially closed she slowly walked up and pushed it open.
Ashley was lying on the floor, unmistakably dead. Maxs' eyes burned with tears. She could tell that the woman had been trying to get the bathroom window open and had been shot in the back.
It looked as if she had been dead for awhile. A few hours maybe. There was a chance that Cara was okay. Maybe she was hiding somewhere.
Max stepped into Caras room. She didn't say anything in case someone besides her sister was still there.
Stepping around the bed she saw a leg sticking out from under it. She skakingly reached down to touch it, and found it cold. Max snatched her hand away, the tears really falling now. Her family was gone again. She didn't want to look and see what had happened to Cara.
Max went back to the living room and got her backpack. She then went to her own room, dumped out her books and shoved as much clothing as she could into the bag. She went to Caras room again and did the same with Caras bookbag, only putting food into it.
Then she set off for the police department. She wasn't going to let them lie there for any longer than they had to. After she reported what had happened she was getting out of there. She didn't care about anything anymore. No more school. She was going to work and make a living,so she could feed herself.
No more crying for people she couldn't protect. From then on, it was her and only her.
AN: OKay, I know this was really depressing; but it was just a look at Sonjas' personality and what happened to Max after she escaped from Lucys' father. If anyine is confused about that, it's from the episode Flushed in season one.