Chapter Ten: Slight Plagiarism

Oz joined the group as Spike frowned deeply. 'Something's definitely changing them.'

'A spell?' Willow suggested. Oz shrugged.

'They're teenagers. It's a sobering mirror to look into, huh?' Spike smiled a little.

Snyder walked by once more, stopping to compliment Oz on his hair, before walking around him. The music stopped and a bunch of old men gathered on the stage, singing a terrible rendition of "Louie, Louie". A nerd walked by at the four teens stared in distaste.

'This gets more upsetting every minute.' Willow said, turning away as a few older couples began snogging wildly on the dance floor.

Buffy pointed at the stage. 'No vampire has ever been that scary.' Spike grinned, his grip on her hand reassuring her for the moment. 'We've gotta figure out what's going on. This has Hellmouth fingerprints all over it.' She turned to leave the club, coming face to face with Angel.

'Angel…' She said, her hand losing Spike's. He frowned, looking at the other vampire.

'Buffy.' He looked over at the others. 'I know what's going on.' He looked to Spike. 'It's the Mayor.'

'The Mayor?' Buffy questioned. She looked back at the stage, frowning at the noise. 'Outside, now. I can't hear you properly in here.'

The group headed outside. Snyder ran after them, shouting. 'Hey, where are we going?'

Buffy stopped, spinning to face Angel. Spike stood a distance away from them, his posture suddenly rigid. Willow and Oz joined them, followed shortly by Snyder.

'Hey! You guys aren't trying to ditch me, are ya?' he frowned. Buffy ignored him.

'So, the Mayor?' She urged Angel, who nodded.

'The Mayor is evil.' Angel said. 'I started digging after Trick said he was "gonna eat us all up". He's triggering for ascension.'

'So the mayor is our big bad this year?'

Angel nodded. 'These chocolate bars are a diversion. This all has something to do with the demon Lurconis. Lives in the sewers and feeds on a diet of babies.'

Spike looked to Buffy, who frowned.

'Hospital?' He asked. Buffy nodded.

'This is tactic to stop the adults being so…adulty. So they stop watching the kids. No one notices the babies are gone…' Willow said, looking at Willow.

'We gotta stop these bars getting out…' Buffy thought for a second before looking at Snyder. 'Bet you know where they come from.'

Oz raised a hand. 'Maybe we should find Giles. He'll know what to do right?'

Buffy shrugged. 'For all we know, he's sweet sixteen again.'

'He's with your mom at his place.' Buffy frowned at Willow.

'Of course, I mean, even if he's sixteen, he's still Giles, right? He's probably a pretty together guy.' Oz said, waiting for an answer. Buffy and Willow shared a look.

'Yeah, well.' Willow said, stopping as she bit her lip.

'Giles at sixteen? Less Together Guy, more Bad-Magic-Hates-The-World-Ticking-Time-Bomb Guy.' Buffy stated.

'Well, then I guess your mom's in a lotta trouble.' Oz said. Buffy frowned again and then pointed at Angel and Spike.

'You two, go find the babies.' She looked over at the others. 'Willow, Oz, go to the library. Get Xander and Cordelia. I'm going to get to the source.'

Giles hooked his arm around Joyce's shoulder, inhaling deeply from his cigarette. Joyce chewed on some gum, looking up at him.

'Must be exciting being from England.'

Giles kicked a can. 'Not particularly. You cold?'

'Nah-uh. I feel... special, like I'm just waking up, kinda.' Giles looked down at her.

'Oh, yeah?'

'Yeah, like, uh, getting married and having a kid and everything was just a dream, and now things are back like they're supposed to be.'

'Yeah?'

The two walked past a shop, displaying some retro clothes. Joyce stopped to look a pointed at a feather wrap, smiling widely. 'That's cool.' She chewed on her gum, nodding her head. 'Very Juice Newton.'

Giles checked his hair in the reflection before looking up at the item of clothing. 'You fancy it?'

'Yeah, but the store's closed.' She pointed out. Giles shrugged before throwing his cigarette aside and picking up a trash can. He swung it towards the window, shattering it as Joyce quickly stepped away. Glass went everywhere and an alarm began to bleep loudly. Joyce giggled hysterically as Giles jumped in and grabbed the wrap, passing it to her before jumping back down onto the street.

'Woo-hoo!' He exclaimed loudly, watching as Joyce pulled the wrap around herself.

'Oh, Ripper! Wow that was sooo brave!' She swooned.

A policeman stepped in front of them suddenly and aimed his gun. The two froze instantly.

Buffy started the car, watching the two vampires leaving in the opposite direction with unnatural speed. Her thoughts drifted for a moment before Snyder's annoying voice piped up beside her. She revved the engine, speeding off towards the school. She stopped at the first intersection, waiting for the lights.

Willow shrieked suddenly and Buffy turned just in time to see another SUV heading for them, the man in the driver's seat fiddling with a chocolate bar, not looking where he is going.

The cars collided, the other SUV impacting on the side of Joyce's jeep hard, denting the side.

The vehicles stopped, smoke rising from the bonnet of the second SUV. The driver got out and ran as Buffy turned to the others.

'Everyone alright?'

The police officer had a Beretta 9mm aimed at Giles, who let go of Joyce to face him. Joyce backed away as Giles took the hat from his head and tossed it aside. He stepped toward the officer and waved his arms around, taunting him.

'Ooo... Copper's got a gun!' he jumped around a bit, taunting the officer more. 'You'll never use it though, man.' The officer scowled at him

'Will so.' Giles scowled back, spying a candy bar in the officer's jacket.

Joyce called to him. 'Ripper, be careful!' The noise distracted the officer and Giles batted the gun aside, grabbing it and holding onto it. He head butted the officer in the forehead and kneed him in the crotch. The cop doubled over in pain as Giles twisted his arm up above his head and snatches the Beretta from him. He shoved his knee into the officer's face, standing up and looking over at Joyce as she leant against the hood of the police car. Giles pocketed the gun, smiling at her.

'Told him he'd never use it. He sauntered over to Joyce.

She laughed. 'You are sooo cool. You're like Burt Reynolds.' In a flash, Giles placed his hand around her neck and the other around her back, kissing her passionately. She gasped but didn't resist. Giles leant her back over the car, oblivious to the public audience.

The dent in the car was noticeable. From space. 'Oh, god.' Buffy groaned.

Snyder, Willow and Oz appeared behind her. Willow shuddered. 'Is anybody else all creeped out and trembly?'

The principal rubbed his shoulder as the other three looked over to a group of men hanging out in a park. 'Oh, Buffy... Your mom's gonna kill you.'

'Everyone is wandering.' Buffy said, looking at her friends. 'Angel was right. No one is protecting their houses…or their kids.' She frowned at Willow. 'But there is one thing I don't get. This is a free meal. Where are all the vampires?'

The group looked around. Snyder pulled a candy bar out of his pocket, looking over at Buffy, whose eyes widened. She took the bar off of him.

'Hey!' He exclaimed, trying to get it back.

'You knew about this?'

He looked confused. 'I don't know. It came through the school board.' He shook his head. 'If you knew that crowd...'

Buffy shook him and he stiffened. 'Where did it come from? Do you know where to get it?'

Snyder nodded. 'Yeah.'

'You guys can get to the library from here right?' Willow and Oz nodded. 'Right, I'm gonna get Snyder to show me where this stuff comes from.' Buffy shoved Snyder towards the car, looking at Willow. 'Be careful okay?'

Buffy pulled the car up in an alleyway behind the factory, looking out of the window as she turned the engine off. She climbed out, followed by Snyder. There were two men throwing chocolate bars into a crowd. The crowd itself is large and rowdy. Buffy stormed towards it, passing her mother and Giles, barely recognising them. She stopped as turned as realisation overcame her and she looked at the snogging pair in disgust.

'Mom? Giles?!'

'Go away. We're busy.' Giles mumbled, not even looking at her.

'Mom!' Buffy pulled her mother away from her watcher, aware of her protestations. She looked down at her outfit. 'Where did you get that coat? Never mind. Listen…' Giles grabbed her arm and span her around.

'Back off!' He warned. Buffy looked at him seriously.

'Giles, think about this. You wanna fight me, or you wanna let me talk to my mother?' Giles stopped, withdrawing his hand and backing away. He pulled a cigarette from behind his ear and lit it, taking a deep breath. Buffy turned back to Joyce. 'Mom, look at me. Do you know who I am?'

Joyce smiled. 'Of course. You're Buffy. Hey, look. They're, they're giving away candy. You want some candy?'

'No, I don't! And you don't need any more, either.' She scolded.

Joyce scowled at her. 'I'm fine. I can have more if I want.'

Buffy frowned. 'You are not fine. You need to go home.'

Her mom got angry and pulled out of her grip. 'Screw you. I want candy!'

'Mom!'

Joyce ranted at her. 'You wanna slay stuff, and I'm not allowed to do anything about it. Well, this is what I wanna do, so get off my back!'

Buffy attempted to plead with her, aware of the crowd growing rowdier behind her. 'Mom, please, this is...'

Giles interrupted, reaching for Joyce. 'Oh, for God's sake.' He pulled her away. 'Just let your mum have the sodding candy. C'mon, Joyce...'

Buffy held her mother back, pointing at the Jeep. 'Mom, look at your car. Look at that dent the size of New Brunswick. I did that.'

Joyce looked shock as Giles stood behind her, inhaling deeply on his cigarette. 'Oh, my God.' Her face scrunched up. 'What was I thinking when I bought the Geek Machine?'

Giles busted up laughing. Buffy scowled at her and stepped over to Giles, giving up on her mother.

'Listen to me. You need...'

Her watcher interrupted her and Buffy noticed how Cockney he had gone. 'No, you listen to me.' He pointed at her. 'I'm your Watcher, so you do what I tell you. Now, sod off!'

Buffy grabbed his cigarette and threw it on the ground, stomping it out, furiously. 'Take her home.' She headed for the crowd. Giles grabbed Joyce's hand and followed her. Buffy pushed her way through the crowd and stepped up on a crate, dispatching one of the men tossing candy out to the people. She laid a quick punch on his knee and he crumpled, falling of the end of the dock. She log rolled onto the platform and flipped up onto her feet. The other man comes for her and she punches him twice, in the face and stomach. The man doubled over, hitting the deck.

Buffy turned to see her mom and watcher stuffing chocolate bars into their pockets at the bottom of the dock. 'Mom!' She grabbed her by the arms and pulled her up, much to her mother's annoyance. Giles looked up.

'Oi! You leave her alone!'

Buffy turned, kicking in the factory door as Giles hopped up on the dock. He followed the two Summers women into the building as Snyder spied them leaving. He ran through the crowd, jumping up and shouting after Giles.

'Hey, Brit-face! Wait up!'

Buffy pulled her mother into the shipping area and let go of her. 'Stay here.' She instructed. She looked around, trying to see any weapons. She suddenly spotted a man on the phone as Giles and Snyder walked in. The man had his back to her and she approached him, ignoring Giles and Snyder commenting on the chocolate.

The man started to talk on the phone. 'Yeah, I've been out there. Town's wide open. You can go anytime.' Buffy immediately recognized the voice and crossed her arms as she closed the distance between them.

'Ethan Rayne.'

He turned to face her, and his eyes went wide with surprise. Upon hearing the name, Giles spun round and followed Buffy, Joyce close behind. Ethan's eyes went from one to the other and he spoke into the phone again.

'Might wanna hurry.'

'Ethan.'

Ethan looked at Giles. 'Ripper.' He turned and ran. Buffy and Giles followed as he ran under the inclined end of the conveyor belt and sent a rack being him tumbling to block their path. Buffy vaults over it, as does Giles, albeit slightly slower. The chase continued into the factory, leaving Joyce standing with Snyder. The small man turned to her and smiled awkwardly.

'Do you suppose they're okay?' Joyce asked.

The principal pulled out a candy bar, chewing on it. 'Mm-hm. So... are you two kinda... like, um... goin' steady?' Joyce rolled her eyes and hopped up on the conveyor belt.

Snyder watched her for a second before turning around and sighing.

Ethan disappeared from sight and Buffy stopped at the end of an aisle. Giles caught up with her, panting.

'Where... Bloody Hell!'

'That's what smoking will do to you. Now be quiet.'

'Well... Where'd the bastard go?'

Buffy looked at her watcher, annoyance coating her expression. 'Shh!'

She looked around and listened carefully. She headed round a corner and stopped. Giles watched as she pretended to go on and then suddenly spun round, kicking a crate. She yanked at the wood, pulling Ethan out. 'Look, Giles. A box full of farm-fresh chicken.' Giles smiled. 'So, Ethan, what are we playing? We're pretty much in a talk-or-bleed situation. Your call.'

'Hit him.'

Buffy glared at him for an instant, then looked back at Ethan.

Ethan stammered nervously. 'I-I'd just like to point out that this wasn't my idea.' Giles paced behind Buffy.

'Meaning...?'

'I'm subcontracting. It's David you want. I'm just helping him collect a tribute... for a demon.'

'Hit him!' Giles exclaimed. 'He's lying.'

'I know he isn't. The demon's called Lurconis. I wanna know what the mayor is up to. And who's this David?'

'I don't know anything about the mayor.' Buffy raised a fist. 'No, I swear! I thought it was all arranged by this guy, David! He's a vampire…I don't know anything else.'

'You're just running the diversion.'

'More than a diversion.' Ethan looked over at Giles nervously. 'Well, they said the tribute was big, so big that people would never let them take it. That people had to be out-of-it. And later on, when the candy wore off, they'd blame themselves.'

'Hence, land of the irresponsible.' Buffy sighed. 'I know about the tribute. Where are they taking them from? And where's this David?'

'I don't know exactly.'

'Hit him.' Giles said. Buffy raised her fist again.

'No! I-I-I really don't know.'

Buffy released him. Giles sighed. 'We need to get to this demons lair, now.'