Chapter Ten:
Climbing in through her bedroom window Buffy flopped down on her bed tired. Interesting woman/demon or whatever. I'm not sure if I can trust her though, I'll just have to see I guess. But that Gabrielle is completely different, just talking to her you feel like she's been your best friend forever, that you can just trust her. Makes you wonder which one is 'really' more dangerous that way. The one you're suspicious of or the one you trust too easily.
Sitting up Buffy pulled off her shirt and pants tossing them on a chair, leaving her dressed in only her bra and panties. Standing up Buffy walked out of the bedroom and padded down the hall into the bathroom. Pulling her underwear off she turned on the water for the shower she set the temperature to hot and stepped under the spray.
Lathering up Buffy couldn't rid herself of her worries about the Council. "I always suspected they were ruthless, but that…that's just over the top. I 'know' I can trust Giles if I tell him about Xena. I'll go and see him tomorrow and tell him everything, hopefully he can clear a few things up."
But you heard what Xena and Gabrielle said about the Watchers Buffy, Buffy's Inner Slayer voice nagged her. They didn't just kill her, they raped her first and then left her to die! What if you're wrong? the voice continued to say. "I'm not! It's that simple, Giles is like a father to me, he'd never betray me like that. So that was someone else who injected the muscle relaxant into you then? Gee, that's nice to know! The voice replied sarcastically.
Wrapping a towel around herself Buffy walked out of the bathroom, steam floating out into the hallway and back to her bedroom closing the door behind her. "She's wrong about Faith though. I know she does the whole 'hungry and horny' line all the time, but it's not like I like girls or she even looked at me." Oh? Then what about that time right before she left for LA when she kissed you senseless on the swing set in the Park? What was that? Beth's Inner Slayer asked. Oh and do tell me you haven't been thinking about her lately and we won't even go into 'why' you freaked out when the Werewolf hurt Faith and tossed her through the window now will we!
"What ever!" Buffy murmured annoyed as she pulled on some cut-off sweat pants and a t-shirt and slid under the covers of her bed. Turning off the light Buffy quickly fell asleep.
Getting up with the rising sun, Buffy dressed and headed over to the dorms to find Willow. Arriving at Willow's dorm room Buffy knocked on the door. A few minutes later a sleepy-eyed Tara dressed in a skimpy silk robe opened the door, "Yes?" Tara asked as she tried to focus her eyes and wake up.
"Oh, uh Tara." Is she naked under that? "Sorry. I was looking for Willow, uhmm this is probably a bad time, I'll go." Buffy started to move to leave when she heard Tara call her name.
"Buffy, wait!" Tara stepped forward. "Come in. You shouldn't stand in the hallway."
"Won't people talk?" Buffy asked.
"As if they don't already?" Tara said with a trace of irritation.
"Okay." Buffy walked past Tara into the dorm room. Turning around as Tara closed the door Buffy saw the small table with plates and the burnt out stubs of candles and raised an eyebrow for a moment in surprise. Uh oh! Willow missed something!
"So Tara have you seen Willow? I was looking for her to help me with some research…"
"No! Have you?" Tara said angrily. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about her. This isn't like her to not even call," Tara sat down roughly on the bed.
"Last time I spoke to her she said something about doing research, so she could be at the computer lab, but she didn't answer when I called there so I don't know Buffy."
Buffy sat down next to Tara, "You know Will Tara, she'd never miss something as important as your anniversary unless it was super important and I'll bet she makes it up to you."
"You're right she wouldn't just forget me like that." Tara leaned over and hugged Buffy. "Thanks."
Buffy felt Tara's breasts thru the thin material and as the hug ended images of Faith naked and wet flashed thru Buffy's mind and she suppressed the heat that rushed to her center. Standing up quickly Buffy walked to the door, not wanting Tara to see the flush on her face.
"Uhmm, no prob Tara. I'll be going now…to look for Fai…Willow. Yes, that's right. Willow." Opening the door Buffy hurried out.
Willow leaned back in the chair as she closed her session down on the PC and shut it down. God I'm tired. Reaching over Willow pulled the thick sheaf of papers off the laser printer and put them into her backpack.
Early Morning 1 day earlier…
Those sons of bitches! I'm gonna find them and make them wish they'd never 'heard' of Sunnydale much less come here! Three hours later Willow had readied all her files and was logged into so many servers on the Internet it would take them weeks to sort it out.
"Paybacks are a bitch, now so am I." Willow muttered under her breath as she opened a remote TCP/IP session with the Initiative's mail server. Within minutes Willow had cut through the outer firewall on the server and had the names of 50 base personnel. Now to see what type of naming service they have and if they're running NT or Novell, if it's NT I have just the right program to let fool the computer and make me look like a valid user.
"Whoops! Almost had me there didn't you!" Pulling up the Host file Willow smiled and opened up her program, LookingGlass.exe. "Hehehehehe! Now you see me…now you don't cause look…I'm a Lieutenant Colonel Evanson and I'm supposed to be here!"
Willow glided thru the network sifting thru files and programs as she sought to find out who had turned Oz into what he feared most, a monster who'd kill over and over.
Willow typed in several commands and sent her search bots out into the network seeking out what she needed to find. 30 minutes later there was a chime and the Imperial March theme from Star Wars started playing on her PC's speakers. HEY! I got something! Now to go take a peek at what I've found.
Willow quickly went to the workstation and started a search on its hard drive. "Let's see what we've got here." Willow opened the file and started looking thru it. Most of it seemed rather innocuous and she started to wonder until she saw something at the bottom; "Subject 110 is prime candidate for Project Hunter either as breeder or operative. Subject 110's DNA is needed to advance project. Snowman will use any and all means to obtain Slayer's DNA for OMEGA and Project HUNTER." There was a case file reference number at the bottom. "Gotcha!"
Using the case file reference number Willow started a new search using that number on the entire network this time. But instead of waiting long a new screen flashed on her monitor. This screen had 2 swords crossed over a blood red background and just underneath Willow saw the login screen and a warning message; THIS IS A SECURED AREA. SECURITY LEVEL EYES-ONLY DELTA -5 OR HIGHER. Settling her excitement down Willow started up a new program; Carrot.exe and watched the program start searching for the password and username to enter.
Several minutes later there was a beep and she heard a low deep laugh that chilled her to the bone, but the screen changed to a welcome splash that said; WELCOME TO SIGMA!
A search engine box appeared and Willow started typing. Almost instantly file names started to fill her screen when Willow saw one name that caught her attention. "Buffy Anne Summers, Subj. 110"
Clicking on it Willow called the file and opened it up. Starting to read, Willow hit the print button. Oh my Goddess! She thought as she read what was inside. As she searched further Willow found files on all of them; Xander, Anya, herself, Buffy, Tara, Giles, the list went on and on. Printing only the files for the Scoobs, Willow looked further and found another security screen and spoofed it, passing inside into this computer.
As Willow started reading she felt her stomach start to rebel and she ran from the computer lab to the bathroom in time to have her stomach throw everything she had eaten out as she vomited into the sink. When she had stopped Willow washed her face and stepped out feeling woozy.
Seeing a Coke machine Willow walked over and got a bottle. Opening it she slowly sipped it, feeling the soda settle her stomach. These people are SICK! I can't believe what they've been doing for years and now they want to come and setup shop in Sunnydale? No. Way!
Willow reached over and refilled both paper trays on the printer and it started to hum again as it continued to print. Satisfied she had everything she needed Willow opened up a final program, JollyRoger.exe, and smiled as she double clicked it and sent it on its way to the heart of the network.
As carefully as she entered this network, Willow started to exit it, not wanting to leave any finger prints when a message box popped up on her screen in bright red letters; WARNING! TRACE PROGRAM IN PROGRESS! "Sweet Goddess, they've run thru half the nodes I left behind to fool them!"
Typing furiously Willow pulled back to the mail server when a new message box appeared; Danger! 15 seconds to completed IP Trace! Willow watched as the numbers started to count down; 14, 12, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3… Willow logged off the Initiative mail server, reaching behind the PC she yanked the power cable out just as the number on the screen ran down to "1".
Leaning back she sighed, Phew! That was close! Grabbing the papers on the printer she stuffed them in her backpack just as she heard footsteps outside the computer lab door.
Buffy walked into the computer lab to see Willow leaning back in her large chair. "Hey Will! What's up? Are you doing your hacking chaos thing again?" Buffy teased.
"Who me?" Willow asked as she put on her best 'Innocent Face'. "Besides its cracker, not hacker and I was just…uhmm…yes…I was just doing research."
"Uh huh." Buffy said doubtfully as watched as Willow tried too hard to play innocent. "Well I need your help looking up something or someone I should say actually. And you're gonna need about 2 dozen roses and some intense groveling later to a certain blonde wearing lingerie and a skimpy piece at that!"
"Huh?" Willow asked confused as they walked out of the computer lab.
"No, actually her name is Tara. You know her, kinda my height, blonde, attractive and head over heels in love with you. Also has a 'very' nice body!"
Willow's brain saved her by finally kicking in, "Tara? Wait!" Willow looked at her watch, "Oh no!" Willow cried out.
Buffy put her arm around Willow's shoulders as she led her out of the building, "It's okay Will. Like I said, she loves you and you can make it up to her later," Buffy said as she steered Willow outside and towards Giles' house.
"So you want me to help you filch books from Giles 'Forbidden Books' section? You still haven't told me why Buffy."
"Willow its just important. Are you going to help me or not?"
"Don't go getting all pushy with me Buffy. I need to know more before I lift one finger here."
Sighing, "Fine! Recently I found out that there's someone new in Sunnydale,"
"So, someone moved to Sunnydale. What's the probl…" A light went off over Willow's head, "Oh…OH! You mean another bad guy moved in? Why don't you just call a research meeting with Giles and everyone and this way…"
Buffy put her finger over Willow's lips to quiet her. "Because I don't want Giles to know or anyone else right now. I have to find out some things first before I talk to him."
A wrinkle appeared on Willow's forehead as a look of confusion crossed her face. "I don't understand."
"I spoke to her and she told me a few things about the Council and I need to find out about her and if what she told me the truth."
"Her?" Willow asked. "You spoke to it? When?"
"It's a her and I spoke to Xena last night."
A concerned look came over Willow's face. "Buffy…"
"It was okay Will. I had it on good authority I'd be okay and I'm not under any control or anything. This is not Dracula, part 2. Been there, done that." Buffy smiled reassuringly at Willow.
"Alright," Willow said grudgingly, not sure if she liked being left out in the cold the way Buffy had done but she wasn't willing to abandon Buffy when she needed help. Plus, if she 'is' being manipulated maybe I'll find something in one of the books to help me. "What is it you need to know?"
Smiling broadly, "I need to know of any reference to this 'Xena'; what she's like, habits, if she's run into any Slayers before, that sort of thing. I also need to find out about a Slayer who died in London in 1666, her name was Sierra…
"So Will what did you find out?" Buffy asked, feeling slightly frustrated since her own attempts at research had yielded her nothing so far.
Willow closed the book she was looking through and pulled the legal pad she had been jotting notes down on closer to her to look at. "Well a few things so far. Most of what I've seen tends to be conflicting but there is a central theme that I've found so far."
"Okay," Buffy said as she sat down recognizing Willow when she went into 'Teacher Mode'.
"Most of the accounts or sightings of Xena seem to place her somewhere around 2,000 to 3,000 years old. Although there are references is Canon's Guide to Demonology which could date her going even further back, however..." Willow felt her arm get nudged and looked over to see an annoyed Anya poking her.
"Ahem, I don't think either of us needs a Demonology lesson at the moment Willow." said Anya. "Focus please."
"Oh, uhmm. Ooops. Sorry about that. Well where was I? Oh yeah." Willow started flipping thru her notes on the pad. "Well she's old, and I mean OLD Buffy, as in Greek mythology old. Her symbol, which is called a...Chakram, has shown up as far back as pre-Hellenic Greece or what was just prior to the Trojan War."
"Now there isn't a lot about her though, mostly snippets and mentions in histories here and there, but they have a single theme though. That she was considered 'the' most dangerous warriour of her time and she had a very strong sense of honor, even at her worst."
"Her worst?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, it seems quite a few accounts state she was a powerful Warlord, so much so that she managed to conquer over half the Greek Empire, except for Troy, Athens and Sparta when she disappeared suddenly. Then she just drops off the face of the earth it seems. There are a couple of possibles that talk about a female warriour and her bard helping others, but I wouldn't put too much faith in those."
"Willow, I wouldn't discount those stories about the warriour and the bard too quickly." Anya interjected.
"Why do you know something?" Willow asked archly over being interrupted.
"Where do you think the name Lion of Amphibolis came from? Her Warlord's crest was a black falcon's head in a gold circle and a black background and the Chakram was the weapon she was known by Willow."
"How do you know all this Anya?"
"Hally was telling me about the good old days in Greece and who to avoid at all costs."
Seeing a potential blowup Buffy stepped in, "You were saying something about Xena's first sighting Will."
Looking back down at her notes, "Yeah, it was in 442 A.D. in Rome during Theodosius II's reign. It seems that the Slayer there, Domitia Paulina, ran into a strange vampire pretending to be a healer, attacked her and badly injuring her before she got away. That night Domitia was spirited out of her villa, two days later she was found crucified on the road to the front gates of the city. According to the records she was still alive, but barely. It goes on to say further that the bones in her arms were so shattered they'd never heal right and her legs were broken in several places each. She died two days later…"
Buffy winced, "Okay, she's protective of this Gabrielle then. Note to self, don't attack Gabrielle." Not that I would.
Gabrielle? I didn't say any name. How does Buffy know what the vampires name is? Willow thought with a start, and deciding to keep a sharp eye on Buffy.
"She seems to disappear on and off again over the next 1,000 years but over and over it's mentioned in the Watcher diaries when she's seen the Watcher is always insistent on the Slayer killing Xena at all costs. But there are several entries from Slayers who encountered her and they always mention Xena's code of personal honour and how she's not like anything they've run into. It's weird Buffy, it's almost like we're talking about 2 totally different people..."
I think they are two different people, the one the Council wants dead and the real one. All of which doesn't answer why the Council is so desperate to have her dead."Anything else Will?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, she's killed three other Slayers for a total of four, but she's never attacked them first. It's always been the other way around and get this, in 1095 the Council sent out an edict to all of its Watchers telling them that they should have their Slayers destroy Xena on sight. But they never mention anywhere what she is whether that's a vampire, a demon or what. But what's interesting is that in 1095 the First Crusades took place as well as a massive effort on the part of the Roman Catholic Church, 'to root out all forces of darkness.' "
"Okay. So," Buffy asked.
Anya answered Buffy, "Well having lived thru it I can tell you that the Church managed to kill more than their share of vampires and demons. But what your books won't tell you is that a lot of Bacchae were also killed. Oh they weren't wiped out, but it was interesting that most of those that died had opposed Xena over the rules she imposed on the Bacchae."
Both Willow and Buffy looked at Anya surprised, "Hey! I'm not just a pretty face here, although I do have one."
"After that the Bacchae disappeared as far as anyone was concerned." Anya continued, "Oh they still popped up, but there were a lot less of them and it's not like there were a lot of them to start or that they breed like bunnies. Nasty evil creatures that they are, bunnies that is."
"Anything else?" Willow asked.
Anya shook her head no, still disturbed by the thought of bunnies running around.
Buffy stood up and started pacing, "Will, what about that Slayer, Sierra. Did you find anything?"
Nodding, "Yeah, I hacked into the Council's network, you know they are a lot easier than the Vatican's, and according to their 'official' records. Sierra and her Watcher were killed and tortured by the Master Vampire, Xena, in London 1666."
Buffy stopped at looked at Willow, "Wait! You said the 'official' records, what else did you find?"
Willow noticed Buffy's pacing and that she was upset about something. "It was in Giles' "Forbidden Items" section," Willow said enigmatically.
"What IT Will?" I have to know if Xena is telling me the truth. I don't trust the Council any, but something tells me I'm going to need help against ADAM and if she can help me..."
"Sierras' diary, it was buried among all the other books." Willow stopped and took a deep breath before continuing, "Sierra was a lot like you Buffy; stubborn, willful, didn't like rules and she didn't trust the Council. She was 18 when she met Xena, she had heard about a powerful vampire that had just arrived in London so she tracked her down and confronted her. The diary gets a little skimpy here about what was said, but Sierra does go on to say she didn't believe this Xena was evil. In the diary she drew a picture of a token she was given by Xena, some sort of wooden disk and she was supposed to go meet Xena the next day."
Unconsciously Buffy reached into her jacket pocket and wrapped her hand around the Chakram tightly as Willow continued. "So what happened?"
"The diary ends there. That was her last entry."
"But you have to have found something else out Will. I have to know what happened to her!" Buffy said anxiously.
Willow looked at Buffy concerned, "Buffy…"
"Will I'm sorry I yelled. It's just everything going on right now, Mom and Faith are in the hospital,"
"And I've got this Frankenstein monster after me and now this. It's not like I've ever trusted the Council, but if what Xena said was true, that they'd murder a Slayer then they'll pretty much do anything and that scares me Will. What if they decide they're tired of waiting for this Slayer to 'come back to the fold' and that the next Slayer would be more pliable. That means they'd come after you guys as well…"
Willow hushed Buffy, "We'll figure it out Buffy." Willow smiled at her best friend and watched the worry on her face slowly fade away.
Buffy walked over to Willow and hugged her, "Thanks! Now what else did you find Will."
"Well the records are mostly spotty since London did burn down to the ground. But in the Scotland Yard database it does have a few references to it, and those say that the girl was found tied to the bed, she'd been raped and then gutted and left to die Buffy. The girl's guardian, Jack Sames, who was also her Watcher was initially suspected until he was found dead as well. He'd been killed on his knees, one round to the back of the head."
Buffy sat down in a chair hard as the implications hit her.
Willow watched as Buffy sat down her face had gone numb, a few moments later Buffy looked up at her and she saw doubt and fear in her eyes.
Lying down on the bed, Buffy tried to close her eyes. Her brain felt like it was on overload from everything she had found out in the last 24 hours.
"I can trust Giles, I know it." Buffy said, Who are you trying to convince of that? You or me? Buffy's Inner Slayer asked her sarcastically. Throwing the blanket over her head Buffy snuggled down and her last thought was Why can't anything be simple sometimes! before Morpheus claimed her.
The dream slowly took shape before her eyes, she watched as Xander, Willow, Giles and Tara fought their way through the chaos before her. What she saw were humans and demons locked in combat somewhere underground. Buffy watched as one soldier shot and killed 3 demons and a werewolf tore into a group of soldiers and blood and pieces flew up into the air.
Buffy watched as they managed to get into a small room with the numbers 3-1-4 on the door and barricaded it behind them. Willow turned to face Tara, tears glistened on her cheeks and eyes. "She doesn't know about Faith, does she Tar?"
Tara shook her head and hugged Willow tightly, "No, she got separated and didn't see it."
Giles interrupted, "Ladies, we have to begin the spell now otherwise Faith's sacrifice will have been for nothing."
Buffy watched as Tara drew a circle on the floor with chalk and then all of them moved onto the cardinal points of the compass. Tara pulled out a large deck of cards..."The power of the Slayer and all who wield it. Last to Ancient First. We invoke thee. Grant us thy domain of primal strength. Accept us and the powers we possess..."
Tara intoned and Willow picked up, "Link us Mind and Heart with Spirit joined. Let the Hand encompass us. Do thy will!"
Tara pulls out a card from the top of the deck, "Spiritus...Spirit" and hands it to Willow.
Tara pulls out a second card, "Animus...Heart" and hands it to Xander who placed it in front of him as Willow had done.
A third card is pulled out, "Sophus...Mind" Giles says as he placed the third card in front of him.
Tara pulls out a fourth card, "Magus...Mage" and placed it in front of her. Pulling out a last card with a picture of a hand, "And Manus...The Hand." She places it in the center of the circle.
All four start to speak as one...
"We enjoin that we may inhabit the vessel. The Hand, Daughter of Sineya, first of the Ones."
The view changes and Buffy sees herself fighting ADAM, she's hitting him with all the strength and skill she has but it seems to have no effect. She watches the scene as ADAM grabs her arm and breaks it, then tossing her into a wall.
As Buffy watches herself struggle to stand up she sees the image change back to her friends, there is pounding on the door as they continue to chant, "We implore thee. Admit us. Bring us to the vessel..." A final blow to the door sends it flying across the room and careening into Giles who is thrown back. The demon jumps into the room and all Buffy sees is red as the scene disappears.
Blinking her eyes, a cloaked figure walks toward her. Looking around she's standing in the open somewhere, but she doesn't recognize where. "Who are you and what do you want?" Buffy asks angrily.
The cloaked and hooded figure gestures, "Why I'm just here to give you a warning my dear Slayer..." says a deep male voice echoing from the hood.
"What you saw will happen, I've just decided to give you a warning." Buffy hears a slight chuckle from the figure. "Of course now all this doesn't have to happen that way." The figure starts to walk around her slowly, almost leisurely. As she watches this stranger carefully, Buffy notices the arrogant and graceful stride he has as he walks. The cloak hides him, but she is still able to make out that he is tall and probably well muscled and he seems to be wearing something at his hip.
"So why are you showing me this then? You don't sound like you have a stake in this."
The figure rubs his chin, "Oh I do, I do! But let's just say it's in my best interests if you don't die."
Frowning, "So who are you again? I don't think I heard you the first time." Buffy says suspiciously.
Buffy heard a deep throated laugh come from the stranger, "You are very amusing my little Slayer." The figure looks her up and down and Buffy feels as if she's standing naked in front of this guy. "Well maybe not little, oh Slayer of mine. Buffy can hear the grin coming from him.
Buffy feels a rush of heat as she blushes in embarrassment and then anger at this stranger's arrogance. "You keep calling me your 'little Slayer' this or 'Slayer anything' and I'll feed you your teeth!"
"What? Is my Slayer getting upset now? And here I am trying to help you from making a mistake and this is the thanks I get sweets?" The stranger says as he continues to circle her, as he walks behind her Buffy drops to her knee and sweeps her let out where he should be...
Only he's gone, as she realizes he's somehow behind her Buffy tries to turn but only manages to have the punch catch her in the face throwing her backwards and stunning her. Dazed Buffy tries to get up and falls only to be caught by the throat and feels herself lifted into the air, her feet dangling.
"Listen here little girl. I was a warriour long before your little piece of property here was anything more than marshland and mud! Do not try and play with me!" the stranger snarls angrily.
Unable to break free of the iron grip that holds her, "I have done you a favour and shown you a glimpse of your future if you turn Xena down." Suddenly the figure dropped her and Buffy landed on her feet. Everything went dark, "Don't disappoint me, my little Slayer," Buffy hears the voice coming from all around her. "Work with me and the world will be your oyster...go against me and everyone else will suffer for your mistake!"
Buffy shot up from her bed, she felt herself covered in sweat. Getting up and heading to the bathroom Buffy looked in the mirror as she threw cold water on her face. There on her neck were bruises in the shape of a hand...
End Chapter 10