Freak Show
Chapter 4: Degeneration X
Gwen led Angel and Spike deeper into the Freak Show tunnels.
"I think its time you met some of the other muties that can help us in a fight."
Gwen, Angel, Spike and Wade turned a corner, and made their way through the living areas. Before them was a dark, damp area where freaks were training.
"Meet our front line." said Gwen.
She lead them over to a massive individual, a man who stood the height of the Beast. His skin was ruddy brown and his body was twice as wide as Angel's, and was covered in huge muscles.
"This big lad is Jason." said Gwen. "We mostly call him Brick, 'cos running into him is like hitting a brick wall. He's slow, but incredibly strong."
"He also can't tie his own shoelaces." shouted over Wade, following up with a little chuckle.
"Next up is Mikey Whiplash."
Angel looked at the next guy. He seemed normal enough, a lad of about nineteen, fairly slender, and pretty dirty. He stood with his arms folded behind his back.
"So," said Angel looking at the lad, "What can you do?"
Mikey moved his hands from behind his back, and removed the heavy black gloves he wore. Growing from his wrists were odd sinewy tendrils. They suddenly shot out from his wrists, extending out and grabbing the sword from Angel's belt, and returning it to Mikey's hand.
"That."
"Ha! The kid got you there Angel.." Spike chuckled at the sight of his grand sire being punked by the young mutant, but shut up when he noticed the other tendril holding his sword.
"Kid's pretty good..." Spike muttered.
"Last up," said Gwen, "We have Ratty..."
Gwen pointed to what Angel had assumed was a child, which stood up and threw off the dirty brown robe it wore. Before them stood a figure that at first glance Angel mistook for a werewolf, but on closer inspection had very prominent rodent features. Tufts of ragged, matted brown fur covered the creature's hunched, wiry frame. A short stump of a snout protruded from it's face, with a mouth full of sharp looking teeth. It's hands were twisted, vicious looking claws.
"Ratty don't talk all that much." said Wade.
"So they finally did it! The Council became bigger dicks than they were before." Laura said in the reception of the Hyperion.
"You sure he said Robin Wood?" Faith said, moving uncomfortable close to Oz.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure."
"Be sure..."
"Faith, what's wrong? Do you Know this guy or something?"
Faith moved back into the centre of the lobby and began to pace. Laura had spent a lot of time with Faith recently, and had never seen her this shaken over anything. In fact, she would have gone as far as to say Faith was the most focused person she'd ever met.
"Robin Wood was the principal at Sunnydale High before the town collapsed. He is also the son of a dead Slayer." said Faith, uncertainty in her voice.
"So why do I think there is more to this Faith?" said Laura. "You look like you've seen a ghost, and old teachers don't do that. Spill."
"We.. we were close. I always kept guys at arm's length before Robin. He was the first guy I ever let really close to me. The out of nowhere he ended it. Said that it wouldn't work, that Giles was sending him all over the world to recruit new Slayers, and he just didn't have time for me any more. It always seemed like there was something else though."
"But still, why would they want to refuse us help?" Oz thought aloud.
"Fido has a point.. I mean, the breakup wasn't bad enough to hold bad blood... especially when it comes to saving the world and fighting the good fight."
Back in the tunnels, Angel and Spike were arranging the group of freaks, ready to repel an attack.
"You need someone on patrol at all times." said Angel. "Someone fast, and quiet."
Spike looked around the area. There were four exit tunnels, leading off in different directions.
"Yeah, and you want to block off three of these tunnels." said the blonde vampire. "cut them off, and you know where the attack will come from."
Suddenly, a younger member of the freaks came running down one of the tunnels.
"They're coming!" screamed the child.
"What happened?" said Gwen.
"We were down that tunnel. Me and Tina. We were playing, and suddenly it came from nowhere, just out of the shadows. It grabbed Tina. She tried to get away... to scream for help, but it... it..."
The child broke down in tears, terrified.
Angel reached for his sword.
"Get those exits blocked." said the vampire. "Gwen, get everyone a weapon, and prepare for one hell of a fight."
He looked down the dark tunnel, listening to the sound of advancing footsteps.
"After the Senior Partners, this one should be easy..."
