Chapter 5

Harsh white light from the overhead strip bulbs blanched the already stark faces of the group below. Seated at the galley table, the three non crew members sat in a line, Buffy flanked by her two companions, their expressions fixed and serious. Metal squeaked against flooring as Jayne shifted uncomfortably in his chair across the expanse of the table. Next to him, Mal propped his elbows on the table as he explained to his second in command the events that had led the group here. For her part Zoe, roused from her bed by a bewildered Jayne, had listened in silence, trying to absorb the peculiarities of this night. She kept her focus on the bleached blonde in front of her. His satisfied smile seemed proud as Mal ran through the fight, faltering as he brought the conversation up to date.

'So that's where we're at. You agree Zoe?'

'Yes Sir. I do.' She replied, eyes still fixed on the again smirking form across the table.

'Well then, now I have your undivided attention, I will continue. Everyone sitting comfortably? Then let's begin,' Spike teased.

'We've covered the premise of good warriors chosen to fight the darkness yes? Well imagine back to Earth That Was, where every generation bears a chosen. A slayer, the only one in all the world with the strength and skill to destroy the soldiers of darkness. The word one is the important bit here kiddies. With their death, another is called and so on through time. Each fought with style and honor.' Spike's blue eyes turned to Jayne as he continued

'They were heroes for certain, but, don't think that these chosen were lucky. They were chosen young. They lived hard lives full of violence and estrangement from the world, always walking with the darkness, never really able to be a part of the world.' Blue eyes began to study Mal.

'They would never be normal, always knowing the time would come when they would face something faster, stronger, something better or maybe just luckier than them. The chosen knew with absolute certainty at a future point some creature would end the loneliness of their lives in painful misery, baying in excitement at the spilling of their blood.' Spike broke off. He took a moment to calm his ragged breath.

'That was their torment, to exist in a constant state of war. The innocent fighting for the salvation of a world who didn't even know their saviours were real. Each generation sprung a new chosen to live in tormented anticipation of a horrific, lonely death but regardless of this knowledge they chose to continue til then as heroes.'

'You expect us to believe that you are one of these heroes?' Mal questioned derisively, betraying his disbelief at Spike's words

'Oh no mate. Not me.' Shaking his head, Spike smiled wryly, 'Them.' He said tipping his head to Buffy and Faith.

Mal sat back in his chair. These two women were the saviours Spike had spoken of. They were the ones destined for a life of violent encounters with evil, yet both were so beautifully alive. Buffy was golden brightness, her smile and beguiling nature lightening the room. Faith, contrasted Buffy so neatly. Her dark, sultry eyes failing to hide her innocence of spirit and pure lust for life. He couldn't fathom it. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Faith wink at Jayne, hearing Jayne's responding splutter as the big man battled to comprehend what he heard. Enquiring blue eyes met green as he asked Buffy

'So you're the heroes. But I thought Spike said there was only one?'

'Or at least that was the case.' Spike ran his fingers through his hair, breaking the gel which held it to create waves.

'It happened that in one generation the chosen died, only didn't stay dead.' At this Buffy waved her hand mouthing 'hi.'

'By this time another had been called,' Faith's hand waved as Spike continued 'creating a bit of a paradox. Instead o' one warrior, there were two. Seems this through a bit of a cosmic spanner into the works, also brought some daft bloody prophecy into play, although no one knew at the time. Anyway, things continued along until another little mishap. Number one chosen got herself killed again and was brought back by a witch. Big cosmic instability followed with the original evil trying to destroy the earth in what should have been the final battle. But, and this is where things get a little interesting, this also brought the prophecy to its final phase. It forecast that a rebel of darkness would commit an act of blessed humanity and cast back the evil, in so doing, creating a trinity ordained to holding back the dark power for all of time. But as I mentioned earlier, none of this was common knowledge til afterwards.'

As Spike spoke, Jayne had felt unable to sit. He wasn't easy with the thought of good and bad. He might not have been a truly religious man, but he was fearful of things described as good and evil. In need of a little liquid peace, he retrieved a bottle of whiskey from his store, pouring the pungent yellow liquid into six tumblers before pushing them out to each person seated at the table. Spike took an appreciative swallow, enjoying the burning feel as the alcohol scorched its way to his stomach. The hardest part was yet to come. It had been some time since he had told this tale to anyone but he and Faith both still wore the emotional scars of the rejection that had followed.

Lost in his thoughts, it was the gentle questioning of Buffy's voice which called his attention back to the table.

'You want me to take up the telling hon?' she had seen the look of concern in her lovers blue eyes. 'Let me tell it for a while huh…' She coaxed softly.

'So as Spike said, the prophecy was all nearly completed, except for one crucial event. See it turns out everything is about balance. Light and dark. Good, bad. Angels and demons. So all through history, there had been an opposing partner for everything. Problem with this was something to do with opposing forces having duals or some such…'

'Equal duality.' Faith corrected

'Right, that. It creates natural contrasts. So that's so not great if you want to be the overall winner right? It means you can never really win. So the PTB figured, hey, stead of being all noah two by two, we should have something more stable.'

'A triad.' Clearing her voice, Zoe said to Mal. 'Classic number for fighting assaults and defences.'

'Considered the perfect number. Has triple dimensions, supposed t' be t'only one to increase more when multiplied than added.' Five astounded faces stared back at Jayne. 'What?' He cried 'I aint allowed to know stuff?' he huffed.

Faith grinned at the pained expression on the big man's face. He was honest and brash and she liked it. Picking up the threads of Buffy's explanation, she continued, watching the dark stubble shadow on Jayne's face as she brought the story to its close.

'Sorry B, maybe I should take it from here. It's about me after all. So the big guys figured to go all ménage a trios – and hey, no complaints here.' She smirked out the innuendo. 'So they looked at what they got. They needed each element to represent a different states of being. In the words of the old and crusty;

One from purity born thrice to light.

One from darkness entrusted to light.

One from light reborn in the face of darkness.

They'd got two of them elements all sorted, one to go right? So before you could freakin say 'handcuffs' they made it happen.' Tears flushed into Faiths eyes. Unaccustomed to swell of emotion and unable to blink them away fast enough, she stared down at her fingers drumming out a staccato beat on the hard plastic tabletop. Broad fingers, roughened by years of labor reached for hers, stilling their frantic movement beneath a heavy, warming weight. She allowed the owner of the fingers to pull her hand into his. Palm to palm as she lifted her head. Warm brown eyes stared into hers, Faith felt a rush of affection for this bear like man. He relinquished her hand.

'I was the one to be reborn. I completed the triad and ever since we've been beat off evil.' Both Jayne and Spike snorted at Faith choice of words.

'Wait, so that's it?' Mal questioned. 'You're a mystical triad destined to fight off evil for the rest of time? Let me get this straight, Buffy you're the one thrice born right? Faith, you were reborn in the face of darkness, what so ever that means. But that still don't explain what you are?' He finished, glaring at the bleached blonde man at the end of the table.

'He is the darkness entrusted to light.' Zoe answered, still staring at the blonde

Smirking Spike leaned back into the chair, 'What can I tell you baby? I've always been bad.'

Spike could sense Zoe's reaction to him. Her pulse quickened as he sent a leer her way letting a little gold flash in his eyes. Beside her Mal bristled at the blondes flirting.

'Gorram it. What does that mean? Darkness? What are you?'

'Means he's a demon sir.'

'Demon? Aint no such thing in the verse.'

'Cepting maybe Reavers.' Countered Jayne shuddering.

'They aint demons Jayne, just men.' Attention back on Spike Mal continued 'If you is what you say, I need proof.'

'Go on Spike. Show them.' Buffy urged.

Sighing, Spike let his face melt away into the hard ridges of his demon. Fiery golden eyes pinned the Serenity crew in their seats as they looked upon the strangely feline terror of the blonde man's face. Long fangs protruded his mouth as Spike opened his lips to let out a small growl for effect.

'Ta ma duh!'

The reactions of humans on their first encounter with demons always amused Spike. Zoe's expression hadn't really changed, but he could practically hear her brain trying to assess the full dangers of his new form. Jayne looked in equal parts fearful and fascinated, but Mal, well now, he was genuinely threatened. Mal was a man who prided himself on his self reliance, a man who's faith laid only in his own power. For him this revelation would be offer the greatest test - to reconcile his own beliefs with his staunch betrayal of religious faith. Spike could practically hear the questions now, if demons exist does that mean there is a god? If god exists how is he not righteous? How do so many die crying out for his salvation?

Spike shook his head, casting aside the demon in place of his pleasant human features.

'Can we trust you?' Zoe wanted

'Yes.'

'If the ladies are slayers what are you?'

'Vampire'

'Wuh de ma!'

'Hang fire for one. Aint the prophecy call for two lots of darkness?' Mal turned his enquiring eyes to Faith. 'By my reckoning, that makes you demon too.'

Faith boldly met the questioning stares of the captain and his colleagues as her own face twisted to reveal her demon. Unlike Spike, Faith's golden eyes still held flecks of brown, the ridged forehead and nose less pronounced than his, leaving the impression of a softer demonic influence. Speaking through her shorter fangs she explained 'Because I was slayer first, my demon is weaker than Spike's. I keep more of my human characteristics than he does in this form.' Shaking off her demon, Faith steeled herself to meet the revulsion she knew to be in Jayne's eyes. But when she looked at him, he smiled. 'Always did think a woman should be angel in the kitchen, devil in the bedroom.' Faith grinned 'oh honey I'm no angel,' she cracked.

Mal raised an eyebrow at the pair.

'How do I know you demons aint gonna destroy my crew?'

'Mal. Please understand. We, the triad, we are warriors for the light. Spike and Faith could no sooner destroy your crew than they would me. You are in no danger from any of us.' Buffy placated. She understood his concerns. As a leader he had to be prepared to defend his crew from attack. He was responsible for making the decisions that no one else would and that meant he had to keep his head. Buffy recognised the alienation of leadership, remembering her struggles as she had led her own army into battle.

'We can do no more than ask for your trust. We have trusted you, we have not chosen to share this secret with many over the years but we like you.'

'Kay, part from the strength, what else you got?' Jayne asked

'Super fast reflexes.' Faith retorted

'We heal bloody quick'

'Wicked long life'

'Immortality luv' Spike corrected

'Bouncy hair' Buffy blurted. 'Well I have.' She smiled flicking her long blonde locks.

'Right.' Drawled Spike, casting raised eyebrows in Jayne's direction 'Women mate, give em power, mission and life eternal – all they care about is their bloody hair.'

'Just how old are you?' Mal asked

Pausing Spike's face twisted in concentration 'ummmm'

'I'm 525. Faith's 526 and Spike your what…. 640 something?'

'Must be bout that luv' he replied

A staggered silence fell over the table as Mal and crew puzzled the ages of their visitors. It was a full five minutes later when Mal spoke, 'Time has ticked on past us. You three should head off. Leave us to our musings awhile. Can resolve anything new just as easy in the morning.'

Following their departure, Jayne got up to leave when Mal put a restraining hand on his arm. 'We need to sort this through, sit Jayne.'

'Way I figure it, we have heard us a mighty strange tale tonight. Seen somethings which I would not have ever thought possible. Question is, what happens now?' Looking to Zoe Mal continued 'We putting our life in danger having them in this ship? We threatening lives of Kaylee, Simon and River?'

'Crazy knew what they was. She saw it in the very first. Didn't hear her protesting none.' Jayne offered.

'That's true Jayne. Could be she was fooled by em though… how we know anything bout demons and warrior for light?'

'If you don't mind me saying Sir, I think they are telling it truthful. Could be falsehoods, I agree, but no one can fake their other faces. You said yourself you aint seen no one fight like that before. All we can do is trust em. Besides,' Zoe shrugged, pushing her chair back from the table to stand with her hands resting on her hips 'What could we do if they put it in mind to take us out? Best bet I say, keep an eye on em, but go about as normal.'

'Do we tell Kaylee and Simon?'

'Don't see that its important right now. Sides we'll be in Persephone in days.'

'Jayne you agree?'

'Ey Mal, I do.'

'Well good. We'll set a fast course and be back to normal in just a few.'