**This chapter is sort of tying up the loose ends of Frost and Faith's past before pushing them further into the real world.**
Chapter 7
What's Real to You is Fake to Me
Roin turned toward Kale's new exit and right into a traffic jam. He groaned. "You three get out and go ahead we will catch up."
Oz nodded as he opened the car door and jumped out. Faith and Frost followed.
"Remember the lowest level of the parking garage on 6th and Spruce." Roin yelled at them amidst the honking horns.
Oz nodded his head and slammed the door closed. He turned to Faith and Frost. "Be ready for anything." He said as he started walking south. Faith and Frost picked up speed as Oz started to run.
El saw two men standing outside the entrance of the garage. Not wanting to risk that they might be some type of agent, she climbs in through the side. As she crawled through the gap in between the walls of concrete, she reached out with her right foot. She tapped the hood of the neon, no alarm. She rolled down onto the car and down to the ground. The payphone she needs is in the center by the elevator and stair, but it is down another level. She quietly made her way over to the stairs.
Kale watched as El made her way to the stairs.
"What is that?" Eyecon asked pointing to the bottom right screen.
"Crap, changelings."
Frost looked past Oz as they neared the garage. He reached out and grabbed the back of Oz's shirt. Oz turned. "Frost!?"
"Stop, the guards in front are mine." Frost said shoving Oz toward the wall of the building they were running along. Faith stopped and glared at them. "They won't let you in, but I have an idea." Frost said. He turned to Faith, "put your arm around my waist." He then turned to Oz, "walk behind me with your head lowered. Don't look up unless I talk to you."
Faith glared at him.
"It's the only way."
"Fine." Faith sighed as she put her arm around his waist. "Should I act like a whore too?"
"It couldn't hurt." He said with a cocky smile.
Faith rolled her eyes.
"Let's go," Oz said as he handed his sunglasses to Frost. "Sunscreen doesn't cover your eyes." Oz said as Frost put them on.
Frost walked confidently toward the guards, Faith on his left with her right arm snaked around his waist. Oz followed, not liking this plan, but not wanting to get the hell out before anything else happens. The guards stood their ground as the group neared them. When Frost was only a few feet away, the guard looked up at him in surprise.
"Deacon, where, how?" The first guard asked.
"Sunscreen, new and extremely improved." He smiled and griped Faith shoulder. "So what's inside that you have to keep the cattle out?"
"Mercury and Quinn have a slayer cornered in the bottom level." The second guard replied.
"So are you going to move the fuck out of the way? I'm beginning to sweat." Frost said crudely. As the guards moved aside, Frost guided the two inside. Faith gave both guards a flirtatious smile as they passed. "Oh and boys what does the slayer look like?"
"Small, blonde, vicious." The first guard answered.
Frost turned to see the guards refusing to let Oz pass. "Hey, let him the fuck in, he's mine." Frost left Faith and grabbed Oz by the neck. He pulled Oz toward him and sniffed him. The guards were comforted by Frost's normal display of ownership over the human and turned away to watch the street. Oz glared at Frost as the vampire led them to the stairwell.
Once inside Oz pushed Frost off him roughly and took the lead. Faith pulled away from Frost and smacked him over the back of the head. They followed Oz down to the bottom where there found El waiting for them.
"The payphone is around the corner, but there are two, three vampires and a slayer out there."
"Frost, go first, Faith, El, I'll follow last."
Frost opened the door a few feet in front of him fighting is Quinn, Mercury, Buffy, and Blade. Frost started to freeze, enjoying the fight, but at the same time unsure of what he was feeling.
"Right, the phone is to your right." Oz hissed.
Frost stepped out and moved toward his right.
"Deacon Frost!" Blade announced.
"Shit." Oz cursed, he pushed Faith and El out and stepped in front of Frost.
"Oz?" Buffy asked. "Faith?"
"Deacon?" Quinn and Mercury asked.
"El, get to the phone." Oz ordered.
El started to move, but Blade aimed his gun at her.
"No!" Faith yelled.
The payphone started to ring. Everyone looked over at it.
"El, go!"
El ran over and picked it up before Blade could even blink. They all watched as she picked up the phone, put it to her ear, and dematerialized. The receiver dropped and banged against the stand.
Before anyone could pick up their weapon, Oz spoke. "These two mean something to you, enemy or ally. Well, forget it. They are not part of your fight or your world anymore. They have a new battle to fight for, a new war to win. Killing them will only harm your world." Oz walked over and hung up the phone.
"Deacon?" Mercury asked.
"You're not real, none of this is." He spoke harshly, not bothering to look at her.
The phone rang. Frost glanced at Blade and then walked over and took the phone.
As Buffy watched Frost disappear, she felt confused. "Faith?"
"Bigger destiny."
"You found it."
The phone rang. "Tell the gang I said bye." She walked over and picked up the phone. After she dissipated, Oz put the receiver back.
"They fight for your freedom from slavery."
"From what?" Blade asked.
Oz smiled he pulled out the sword and tossed it to Buffy. She caught it and beheaded the two vampires.
The phone rang.
"Oz," Buffy asked, "how are we slaves?"
"The matrix has you." He picked up the phone.
Oz opened his eyes to see Roin, Twitch, and Eyecon peering down at him.
"Oz, my quarters now!" Eyecon ordered as Roin unstrapped him. Eyecon left. The rest watched Oz as he stood and followed.
"What's that about?" Faith asked.
"No clue." Twitch replied.
"Did you find out what happened?" El asked Kale.
"Yes, another crew went to see the Oracle right after you. As they were leaving, agents swarmed in. I switched your exit, cause it was too close to where they were."
"Whose crew?" Roin asked.
"Morpheus." Faith muttered.
"How do you know?" Twitch asked.
"We ran into them after seeing the Oracle."
"I should get back to the engine room. Frost, want to join me?" Twitch asked.
Frost nodded his head.
Just as the two started to leave an alarm went off.
"What's going on?" Faith asked.
"Sentinels!" They heard Ivy yell from above. Eyecon ran in and up the stairs. Faith and Frost followed.
"How far?" Eyecon asked.
"A few yards, but we can't out run them." Ivy reported.
Faith and Frost saw the holographic image pop up.
"Change the EMP."
The lights went out as Ivy flicked switch.
"Faith, go up to the guns. Oz will show you what to do." Eyecon ordered.
Faith bolted out and continued up the ladder onto the next level. She found Oz already seated at the primary gun.
"What do I do?" She asked as she sat behind the second gun.
Oz didn't turn around. "See the handle in front of you."
"Yeah, it looks like a joy stick."
"Look through the target and pull the stick back to fire."
"That's it?"
"Yeah."
A hush fell over the ship as the sentinels grew near.
"How many?" Eyecon asked.
"Five," Ivy whispered back.
Frost glanced down at the radar.
"Just give me the word." Ivy said.
Eyecon remained silent. Frost watched, as the five dots grew closer. Just as they were almost on top of them Eyecon spoke.
"NOW!"
Ivy flicked the switch and the air filled with electricity. Frost watched the radar as the dots disappeared.
Faith watched as the machines moved toward them. Suddenly blue electrical current burst from the ship and the machines fell dead in the air. She heard Oz sigh. He stood slowly and steps toward her.
"They're dead." He reached over and loosens her hands from the stick. "You can let go now."
She looked at her hands surprised by how tightly she had been holding on. She let go and stood up. "So this is life everyday for you?"
He nodded his head.
"And I thought the Hellmouth was bad."
"It's not all bad."
"No, cause you get the play superhero."
He smiled, as he started to climb down to the main deck.
"So what did the Oracle tell you?" She asked as she followed him down to the main deck. He didn't respond. "Oh, was that something I shouldn't have asked, cause I can never tell."
"No, it's okay. She told me that I would change the way changelings thought."
"Cryptic."
"Not sure which is worse: her or Giles' books."
"So we are both supposed to change the world."
"What you too?" He said acting surprised. She could here him smile. She also let out small chuckle. "Slayer stuff?"
"As always."
"Destiny."
"Don't you just hate that word?"
"Beginning to."
"So when can I get more training?"
He smiled wider as he stepped onto the main deck. "Have to wait until we asses the damage and reboot the system."
"I don't think I'll ever get used to all this computer talk."
He nodded in agreement. "Neither did I."
"But now you have a chance at a promotion."
"Wha...oh you mean Eyecon. Yeah."
She noticed the flicker of sadness in his eyes. "So when do we land in Zion?"
"Three days."
Frost watched Ivy turn off the EMP and restart the engine.
"Check for other ships in the system, then get us the hell out of here. Frost, find Twitch on the engine deck. Help him check the engines." Eyecon ordered.
Frost did as he was told.