Chapter Five
The Glowing Birthmark
Los Angeles, Dollhouse
In the main office of the Dollhouse, Adelle Dewitt stood, waiting patiently for her Chief of Security to arrive with his report. She was still embarrassed about the whole ordeal, and worried about all of those who had been affected. But you couldn't tell by her body language. Being a Watcher required that one mastered ones emotions. In the heat of battle, you couldn't give anything away.
The memory drug that they had been asked to both analyze and locate, N-7316, had worked exactly as Clive Ambrose had been told them it would; by stripping away their inhibitions. What none of them had known was that it was passed along via touching bare skin. It was slow, but effective. And everyone, including herself and Topher, were affected, though in Topher's case, not much changed… with him not wearing any pants being the only notable change. Fortunately, those very effects were also far milder than anyone had assumed. What's more, it dissipated on its own, breaking down and becoming inert. Every non Active affected by it were back to normal by the end of the day.
But the Actives, on the other hand… the Actives weren't as impervious to the drug as they had originally assumed. And their exposure was far more damaging, with longer lasting consequences. Chief among them was that every last one of them that had been infected had experienced a glitch, a random memory thread from their actual lives, or a traumatic event that they had personally experienced at some point. November, for instance, had flashed back to the time when she had killed Hearn, even reciting part of the phrase that would have activated her combat skills. Now that was a fond memory that would put Adelle to sleep on many a cold, lonely night.
Victor, Topher quickly stated, had most likely flashed back to his tour in Afghanistan, where he had suffered a near death experience. He had been suffering from a severe case of PTSD when he had arrived at the Dollhouse. So severe in fact, that Adelle hadn't given a second thought to signing him on.
Sierra, unsurprisingly, had most likely gone to her rapes at the hands of Hearn, which had culminated in his being sent to where November was. Oh, Adelle had enjoyed that, and had figured that Priya would have as well, had she been aware of it.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Active hit the hardest was Echo, who was also the one who had unknowingly flushed out the culprit. She had shown up at Fremont, even though she wasn't supposed to, possibly driven by some leftover feeling of duty towards dead boyfriend. And, unlike Victor, Sierra, and every other Doll that had been there, she had been exposed to it deliberately.
Adelle didn't need to be psychic to know what she flashed back to; the day when her boyfriend had been killed. Despite that, with a little help from her Handler, she was able to stop him before he escaped with the other vial. She definitely had a set on her. That was for certain.
Unfortunately, this also meant that Adelle now had four Actives who were showing erratic behavior that she had to help somehow, without incurring Rossum Corporation's wrath in the process. And she had no idea how to do that. After all, this had never happened before, anywhere. She was curious as to why.
A knock on her office door caught her attention, pulling her out of her morbid thoughts. Quickly composing herself, she went to the door, opening it. "Mister Dominic, please come in," she said in greeting, stepping aside.
"Thank you." Dominic stepped into her office, standing at parade rest uneasily. He was uncomfortable with the whole situation, not knowing what to say or do.
Adelle gave him a brief smile, before looking away, cursing herself as she did so. She had been a bloody Watcher training a Slayer, for the love of Mary! She had stared vampires and other demonic powers dead in the face without fear, and now she couldn't even look her own Chief of Security in the face without flinching! She was getting soft!
Finally, she looked up, smiling politely. "Would you like something to drink?" she asked, silently congratulating herself for looking him in the face when she said that.
"No. Thank you." Short and succinct. How like him. He seemed to have recovered somewhat from his experience. "All of the Actives have been evaluated and processed. Everything seems satisfactory."
Adelle nodded, breathing an internal sigh of relief. Much of her problem was dealt with right there. "Wonderful news." She hesitated a moment after saying that, before heading for her desk. There sitting on its flawless surface, was Dominic's hand gun, taken from him before he could shoot someone with it.
Guns. She hated the accursed things. There was no glory, no honor in killing someone from a distance, without ever seeing their faces. She, who had studied the ancient art of warfare, was far more comfortable with a sword or, if she needed to be a distance away, a crossbow. Sadly, guns were the preferred weapon of choice in the modern world, and even the Watcher's Council had made use of them when contending with human targets. So she tolerated them.
Picking the weapon up like it was infected, she quickly turned around. "Yours, I believe." She held it out to him.
Dominic quickly took it from her, knowing full well how much she hated even looking at the weapon. "Yes. Thank you." He quickly put it behind his back, stepping back to a respectable distance. "The Press is running with the story we sold them. 'Student drugs classmates before committing suicide.'"
She nodded once in agreement. Despite the fact that the one truly responsible would get away with murder, the secrecy of the Dollhouse always took precedence. That had been drilled into her brain when she had first taken the position. "And Echo?" she asked. "I suppose you'll be recommending her for the Attic."
"That's entirely your call, ma'am." Even he couldn't find any fault in Echo's actions. She had been the one to solve the whole mystery, even if she wasn't aware of what was going on. Clive Ambrose now owed the Active a debt of gratitude.
Adelle finally had enough of their walking on egg shells. "For God's sake, quit calling me ma'am!" she snapped irritably, just wanting this to be over so she could have a moment's peace. "We got drugged! We behaved like idiot children! It happens. It's over." She took a breath, bringing herself under control before she went completely crazy on him. He didn't deserve that. Then, more calmly, she added, "You may go."
She was really glad when he did just that, because she needed to calm down before making an appearance within the Dollhouse itself. She had really wanted to rant and rave, basically blame Ambrose for not keeping his house in order, but that wasn't going to help anyone.
Sitting down at her desk, she rubbed her temples slowly, wishing that the last day was nothing more than a bad dream. That she was still in bed, sleeping off one of her drinking binges. Sadly, she knew better. They all knew better.
Finally reaching for her keyboard, she accessed the security cameras of the Dollhouse, taking note of everyone down there as they went about their business, mostly oblivious to what had happened. Thankfully, she, Topher and November had been isolated from the rest of the House, so no harm had been done. She zoomed in on one Active in particular, and breathed out in relief.
There, walking through the lower levels like nothing had happened was Echo. It was like nothing had changed.
But everything had changed. Caroline's plans had almost been destroyed by the drug. And what was worse, they wouldn't know the full extent of the damage until something actually happened.
Fortunately, they had the one responsible for this mess in custody, cooling his heels in the Interview Room. In a few days time, she would go down there and talk to him. After all, he was desperate, in a way that a great many people across the nation were undoubtedly feeling.
Samuel Jenning's mother was experiencing financial difficulties, and was the verge of losing everything she owned. As a result, he had hoped to steal the drug, and sell it to a rival company, thus putting them in the black for quite a while. He had almost had literally nothing left to lose.
Her sympathy for his plight was somewhat tainted by the fact that he had murdered his co-conspirator, released the drug into the college population, and nearly drove Echo, Sierra, and Victor mad. Desperate or not, there was no excuse for willingly putting another's life in danger, just for money.
Watching until Echo walked out of sight, Adelle stood, stretching slightly. For the most part, the Actives were safe. For the night, she could relax a little. Go home, have some dinner, and maybe get some sleep.
And while she was hoping for the impossible to happen, how about world peace? How about a world that didn't need the services of the Dollhouse for any reason? A world where Vampire Slayers weren't needed? She honestly believed in the work they were funding, but sometimes, she wished they didn't have to do some of the things they did to maintain its secrecy.
Entering the elevator, she sighed. There was no way she was going home until she checked up on Doctor Saunders. If there was a member of the staff who was vulnerable to N-7316, it was their resident Active/ Physician.
Luckily for them all, the Imprinted Whiskey wasn't as cocky as Topher, and had worn gloves when examining the other Actives, avoiding direct skin contact at all times. She knew better than to touch anyone when they were not themselves. Still, Adelle worried about her, which was now why she was heading into the Dollhouse's Infirmary. She had to see her for herself.
She breathed in a sigh of relief when she saw the good doctor presently putting the last of the files back into place. At the same time, she shook her head in amusement. She knew for a fact that there was a betting pool going on concerning how long the two of them were going to be at work each week. So far, Boyd Langton had won almost every single one. "Doctor Saunders," she called out.
Claire looked over at Adelle, not really surprised to see her standing there. Adelle was always the first person to work, aside from herself, and the last person to leave. Again, aside from herself. "Didn't I tell you to go home… about three hours ago?" she asked.
"I seem to recall giving you the same orders about that same time. And we both know that neither of us will leave until we are certain the immediate danger has passed." Adelle smiled slightly. "Now, before we go home, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to join me for a late dinner. Unless of course, you and Mister Langton have plans tonight."
"We don't," Claire assured her. "He's taking care of some paperwork for our illustrious Head of Security. So yes, I would love to."
It had become something of a tradition between the two of them to have dinner at least once a week, as a way of bonding outside of work. It was the only time they could speak of anything as equals. It was the only way Claire could learn anything about her, and she enjoyed just being able to talk about nothing and everything.
And tonight, neither one of them really wanted to be alone. Not after everything that had happened.
Therefore, about thirty minutes later, the two women were seated at a late night diner, eating salads while they chatted. However, Adelle found herself unable to truly focus on the conversation, becoming distant.
Claire observed her, noting her somber mood, and guessed why. "You're still worried," she said knowingly.
Adelle nodded, rubbing her ring fretfully. "We could have lost them all, Claire," she said quietly. "We could have lost them all to madness, and it's largely my fault."
"Miss Dewitt…"
"Adelle. Neither of us are on the clock."
"…Adelle, this is Clive Ambrose's fault. He didn't have enough security on the campus to prevent the theft. If you're going to blame anyone, blame him."
"Oh, I blame him for that. I blame myself for putting the Actives at risk. They shouldn't have had to, especially November."
Claire frowned thoughtfully at that. Clive Ambrose did have a lot to answer for. "Adelle, there is no way any of us can predict every single thing that will happen. You made a tactical decision based on the information you had." Her gaze softened slightly. "We both know that Faith wouldn't want you to beat yourself up for everything beyond your control."
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Adelle grumbled, remembering that she had told the good doctor about her previous occupation.
In this case, they were of the same mind. As a doctor, Claire Saunders was in the business of not hurting people, to try and help them as much as she possibly could. But as head of the Dollhouse, Adelle Dewitt had to regularly make decisions, sending Actives into engagements that could potentially harm or kill them. And Doctor Saunders always made her objections known when an Active went on high risk engagement. That was one of the reasons why she was the doctor.
Claire had also seen the agony the older woman kept locked away whenever she made her decision, so slight that most people didn't even see it. Adelle was one of the most stoic people out there. Being a Watcher required that.
But Claire had seen the signs, the slight twitching of the eyelid, the tapping of a finger or foot, and the distant look in her eyes. "Echo is fine," she whispered. "And more importantly, nobody died. "That's got to count for something."
Adelle smiled a little, seeing where this was going. "It does, Claire. It most certainly does. I'm forever grateful for it. I just wish I didn't have to worry about it every day.
"So do I, Adelle."
Echo wandered through the Dollhouse common area, uncharacteristically silent as she headed for the showers. Uncharacteristically alone.
Such a concept was alien to her. She was always in the company of either Victor or Sierra, talking… well, what passed for talking for the Dolls, or simply enjoying their company. But now, she was deep in thought, which was saying something. Dolls didn't do deep thoughts. They were supposed to be children psychologically. They followed a pre determined schedule that kept them occupied and physically fit, and that was it.
But then again, Echo had always been different from the rest. She was always far more aware of her surroundings. She even remembered small things from her engagements, whether it was a specific movement, or a person. In short, she was special. Just as Adelle had secretly hoped, and Caroline had planned.
The communal showers was quiet, and a tad unsettling. For some reason, Echo was uncomfortable with disrobing in front of so many people, even though she knew she had done it so many times before. And for the life of her, she couldn't understand why.
She finished drying off far faster than usual, drying off and getting back into her robe. Running a brush through her hair, she observed her reflection in the mirror. There was nothing different showing there. The same full lips, the same nose, the same brown mane of hair. She hadn't grown a second head, big dumbo ears, or been shaved bald. There shouldn't be anything different about her.
But there was a difference, within her eyes. There was a spark of awareness there that she knew hadn't been there before. A feeling that something was terribly wrong with her. What, she didn't know, but there it was.
Movement caught her eye, and saw that the other Actives were on their way out. Quickly changing into her night clothes, she followed them out.
Looking around as they made their way to the pods, she began to see familiar surroundings in a new light. The illumination was entirely too bright. The place seemed to try and promote peaceful serenity. The people were nice, if a tad condescending.
It all felt wrong, somehow. Like it was being forced. Predetermined. Not Real.
She shook off these thoughts as she climbed into her pod. Lying down, she watched as the glass slid into place above. Closing her eyes, she tried to fall asleep.
Thirty minutes later, she was still trying. That was more than enough to tell her that something was seriously wrong. The pod was just too confining. Besides, she didn't want any bad dreams. But where would be better for her to sleep?
Opening her eyes, she carefully put her hands on the glass, and pushed, slowly opening her pod. Getting up, she saw that the door was still open, and padded out into the hallway, looking for a place to sleep.
Unaware of a dim glow underneath her nightdress.
As was customary whenever they crashed at Adelle's apartment, Claire was the first to awaken, groaning. "Is it morning?" she managed to get out, trying to sit up.
"I'm not sure," was the sleepy reply from her lap, which threw the good doctor for a loop for a second. "My eyes are still closed."
Claire finally processed the voice as her boss, who was presently getting up and stumbling for the coffee machine, and breathed out in relief. For a moment there, she thought she was losing her mind.
No, Adelle Dewitt and Claire Saunders did not have a late night intimate encounter after dinner. Instead, like every other night they had dinner, they invariably crashed on her sofa, alternating on unknowingly being the pillow. How they managed to pull that off, neither really knew.
Today, it was Claire's turn for that rather awkward fate, and she felt stiff for it. Working the kinks out of it with one hand, she took a look around. "What time is it?" she asked sleepily. She was used to waking up in the Dollhouse, to an alarm set for eight o'clock on the dot. But Adelle, she had come to know, was like a walking time keeper. Even if she was drunk off her min, which was rare for her, she knew exactly what time it was.
"About six thirty," the older woman replied, handing her a cup of coffee. "We'll need to get ready for work in about an hour."
"When is the Brute expecting you in?"
"About eight, and I really wish that you would stop calling Mister Dominic that. The last I recall, he does not give out war cries and ravish women by the score. Oh, and he doesn't wear a loincloth."
The two women paused for a moment, getting an image of the man in said attire, holding a woman over his shoulder and bellowing out, Tarzan style, and promptly started laughing.
"Well, anyway," Adelle continued after she had managed to get herself under control," I am going to go get a shower, and change my clothes. I do not want him to start asking questions."
And then, just to prove to her that the Powers That Be ad a sense of humor, her cell rang. Sighing, she flipped it open, seeing who was on it. "Speak of the devil." She pressed it to her ear. "Yes, Mister Dominic?"
"Echo's gone."
Fifteen minutes later, Adelle and Claire were within the Dollhouse, the former ordering a lockdown of the facility and a complete search to be conducted immediately. Unless she was going through a composite event like Alpha did, which was completely unlikely at this point in time, she could very well still be in the building.
Unfortunately, three hours into the search, there was not a sign of her anywhere in the Dollhouse. It looked as though Echo had done the same thing as Alpha, and escaped.
"I keep saying it," Dominic growled, checking Pod Room 16. "I keep saying that she needs to go to the Attic, but she never listens."
"Nobody's dead, Dominic," Boyd LAngton reminded him, his powerful frame seeming to dwarf the Security Head. "Maybe she just get to sleep, and accidentally locked herself in a closet., It wouldn't be the first time an Active did that."
"At night?"
"Dominic, he may be right," Claire told him. "The Actives are still human. Echo's been through a lot, so a lot of erratic behavior is to be expected, until we can find a way to help her." If there was a way to help her.
Dominic was about to open his mouth again, no doubt to remind them both of the days leading up to Alpha's own break, when his cell began ringing. "Dominic… right. We'll be right there." Snapping it closed, he turned back to the other two, somewhat confused. "Dewitt wants in her office. Says she has something to show us, and to lift lockdown."
Confused, the three of them made their way to the stairwell, as it would take several minutes for the lockdown status to be cancelled. And the way the boss was acting told them that she had just come across something she hadn't been expecting.
Three minutes later, they were at her office. Adelle was waiting for them outside. Saying nothing, she gestured to them to look inside. They followed her instruction, laying eyes on the sofa.
There, curled up on the couch, a thick blanket from the Infirmary covering her, was Echo, still asleep.
Boyd and Claire shared a look at this, watching as Adelle slowly made her way over, sitting down near her. "She must have been looking for a place to sleep," the large man stated quietly. "But why come up here?"
"She must feel safe here," Adelle replied softly, running a hand over Echo's head in a motherly gesture. "Protected." She looked up. "Mister Dominic, please call off the search. Let them know that Echo is safe and sound."
Dominic nodded, still somewhat surprised as how abruptly the search had ended. He had been beginning to think that he would have had to initiate a city wide search for the woman. He quickly went to the door, phone once more to his ear.
Boyd sat down in one of the chairs, observing his young charge as she slept. "She must have been up half of the night," he said. "Normally, she's up with the rest of them."
"Either that, or she's reverting back to old habits," Claire added.
"I am more inclined to agree with you, Doctor Saunders," Adelle said, still stroking Echo's hair. "Caroline is a heavy sleeper, like me on my day's off. Without the behavior modification subsonics, an Active would return to many of their old ways." She looked up. "Is there any way we can help her stay in the pods? If Clive Ambrose ever found out about this…"
Claire shrugged helplessly. "It took almost two weeks of not knocking her out before she would get in the pod willingly. You have already suspended them from going out at all until we can do something about it." She looked around, before coming to a decision. "In my medical opinion, I think we should put their original personalities back into their bodies."
"Unfortunately, I can't. Not unless we want them in the Attic."
"I know. Standard procedure."
Boyd frowned a bit. "What if we don't tell them what we did?" he asked.
"Clive Ambrose has this strange ability to know what is going on if we don't report in," Claire informed him.
"So no, Mister Langton," Adelle added sadly, "we cannot do that. We would only make the situation far worse." She gently shook Echo's shoulder. "It's time to wake up, Echo."
Moaning a little, Echo slowly came to, looking around. "Did I oversleep?" she mumbled, blinking slowly to become accustomed to the light.
"A little," Adelle replied. "We' re a little more concerned as to where you fell asleep."
"I couldn't fall asleep in my pod. Too confining."
Claire could have smacked herself on the head for that. How could she forget that Caroline had had a problem with enclosed places? Then there was the way Echo was talking. It was almost as if she knew something was wrong with her. She just didn't know what.
Adelle stroked the Active's head for a few seconds, smiling slightly. "It's quite all right," she said. "We can deal with that later. Now, would you like some breakfast? They are serving pancakes with strawberries today."
Echo was up immediately, grinning like a child. "I love strawberries." She made her way out the door, her Handler hot on her heels, looking at her in half concern, half amusement.
Claire made to follow them, when she caught sight of something underneath Echo's nightgown. For a moment, she honestly thought that she had been hallucinating. It almost looked like something was glowing beneath the dark fabric.
Turning to Adelle, she noticed that the other woman had probably caught sight of the same thing. "Please tell me I'm not hallucinating," she said.
"You aren't hallucinating, Doctor Saunders," Adelle replied, far calmer than she had a right to be. Then again, she was a Watcher. She had probably seen stranger things in her life time. "The location is rather surprising, I must admit. And I believe there was a definite shape to it." She frowned. "Didn't your medical report say that there was birthmark of some kind?"
"Well… yes."
"Did you take a photograph of it?"
"I did. I was hoping someone would find out what it meant." She started for the door, her employer right behind her.
About five minutes later, the doctor had the file in question on her desk, leafing through the paper. "Ah, here it is!" she exclaimed, pulling it out. "When I first saw it, I thought it was a tattoo, and was ready to remove it. When that was impossible, I thought about surgery, when I remembered Caroline telling me that she hated needles. She told me it was a mystery to her, so I left it be." She handed the photo to Adelle. "You're the Watcher. Maybe you know what it means… Miss Dewitt?"
Adelle had taken one look at the picture, and almost collapsed in shock. It was impossible! There was no way two people could be so identical to have the same mark! "The Powers-That-Be cannot be so cruel!" she whispered, eyes wide.
"Miss Dewitt… Adelle!" Claire said rather loudly. When Adelle looked up, she saw the look in her eyes. "I think it's safe to assume that you recognize it."
"…Yes, but not from any book I have read. I've seen this birthmark before. Small of the back, nestled just above her buttocks?"
"Well… yeah. How did you…?"
"Faith had the same birthmark in the same exact spot," Adelle explained, her gaze going distant as she thought about the past. "If I didn't know any better, I would say that Caroline was Faith."
"But Caroline doesn't possess Slayer strength," Claire mused, seeing where Adelle was going at. Obviously, there was something else going on here than they were aware of. "So the question is; what the hell's going on?"
Adelle frowned thoughtfully. Perhaps we should just ask Caroline," she replied quietly.
Sierra was staying rather close to Echo, which was somewhat surprising.
It wasn't surprising that she was. The newest Active had formed an immediate bond with Echo, and had been seen with her most frequently, forming what passed for friendship among them. She knew that she could count on the younger woman, no matter what terrible things had happened.
It was surprising because she was rather scared to be alone with any of the staff.
But for her, the reason she didn't feel scared was because Echo was there. Echo made her feel safe. Echo watched out for her. Echo made bad thoughts go away.
But Echo was being unusually quiet today, which was surprising. She usually initiated conversation with the others, or just said hello. She wasn't doing that today. "You are quiet today," she said.
Echo turned to her, smiling slightly. "I'm thinking," she replied gently.
"I think a lot. More than before."
"It's… different."
Sierra nodded. "Something happened to us, didn't it?" she asked.
Echo nodded, frowning thoughtfully. "Something that wasn't supposed to happen."
The blonde was quiet for a moment. "I was hurt badly, wasn't I?" She saw images of two different men, both who had looks of triumph on their faces. They scared her.
"Yes you were. I don't know how."
"Are they gone?"
"One of them."
Sierra nodded, feeling some of her fear disappear. "I'm glad."
So was Echo. She didn't want Sierra to be sad. Especially around Victor. They looked so cute together.
"Sierra, it's time for your treatment."
One of the kind, condescending people men had walked up to them, breaking the little moment of bonding they were having. Sierra automatically stood up, but the man wasn't done. "Doctor Saunders would like to see you, Echo."
The girls nodded, trading confused looks, which neither should have been able to do. The older one had been wondering when that was going to happen.
Though she didn't know why.
Airport
It had been one of Tru's hopes to see Los Angeles before she died. It was an old 'Ten Things To Do Before I Die' list that she had made with her mother when she was five. After all, it was where all of her childhood heroes resided. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bill Cosby, and Malcolm Jamal Warner, just to name a few.
But now, she understood a whole lot more. While she hoped to run into them during her time here, she had a far more pressing issue to contend with than getting some autographs. It had taken her and Meredith eight months, but they were finally here. Now the search for Caroline could finally begin.
Beside them were Harrison and Jack, both of them silent. She had been grateful for them when the two boys volunteered to go with them. Harrison was doing it because he was their brother. He honestly wanted to meet the two other sisters.
Jack, on the other hand… his reasons were still his own, and he had opted not to tell them why. She had respected it. She was just glad he was here with her.
That is to say, their attempt to get here was not without trouble. The day immediately after Tru had called Agent Ballard, the two hands of Fate were suddenly struck by a slew of Rewind Days, one after another. It was so terrible that they barely got any sleep anymore, and had even begun sleeping in Jack's or her apartment, whichever was closer.
Meredith turned out to be a godsend. Now that she was in on the secret, she was able to help out more. Davis and Harrison were able to run interference on some of the more difficult ones. And Carrie, who had been allied first and foremost with Jack, could get them information that the rest of them couldn't. It seemed that, in light of learning about her sisters, Life and Death were finally on the same page.
Then again, Tru mused, they had always been on the same page. They had just been on opposite sides until recently.
But now, here they were, after eight long months, staring at the large number of people milling about. The Fates themselves couldn't stop them fro this, though why they wanted to was beyond any of them.
"Okay, just to recap," Harrison stated from next to her, a slight grin appearing n his face, we find out what Ballard knows about this 'Dollhouse.' We have to find Caroline. Maybe find out what happened to Faith. And, while we're at it, probably a few people from dying."
"Not necessarily in that order," Tru replied, looking around. The awe of where they were was already beginning to fade. Now she just wanted to start searching for her sister. "I really hope I don't have to worry about a rewind day while we're here."
"Amen to that, Tru!" Jack stated.
Harrison shrugged. "Well, you two would know that better than I do."
"And what am I, Harry?" Meredith asked, incensed. "I had to live through it with Mom!"
"Do you really have to ask?"
"How about you two can it?" Tru asked irritably. It constantly amazed her how her siblings could butt heads on every subject in creation. "As of right now, our parts in the Grand Design are not to be discussed during our time here. Okay?"
That shut them up quickly enough, as they both knew how touchy their sister was concerning her powers, and how much Jack hated his. Neither one of them let it show, but they knew.
Jack quickly grabbed their bags from the conveyor belt, secretly relieved that none of them were missing. "Well, let's get to the hotel, get settled in, then find Agent Ballard."
"How about some lunch, first?" Harrison asked, catching sight of Tru's irritated expression. "Look Tru, I know you and Meredith want to find her, but you need to eat."
As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. She was no good to anyone if she didn't keep herself running efficiently. "All right, you win," she said reluctantly. "Let's go. Either of you have the map? I don't want to get lost."
"Right here, Tru."
"Good. I'm driving. No offense Jack, but you drive worse than Davis."
"Davis doesn't drive!" Jack stated exasperatedly. "He takes the bus!"
Meredith frowned. "I didn't know he took the bus."
"He's been doing it for about a year," Tru explained. "His car had an unfortunate encounter with a drunk driver. He asked for help, and Jack was gracious enough to help me save him."
"Thus reminding us all that he is still human," Harrison added, "and still has feelings."
"Exactly." Tru smiled. "Besides, I already called driver's seat. Harry, directions."
Jack mock glared at her. "Fine, see if I ever help you again," he said.
Paul Ballard was not having a good day. He was not having a good month.
For starters, he had finally the girl called Caroline, only to find out that she didn't even remember herself. Then, later on, he was attacked by that same woman, only that time, she was a fighter on par with him. Beat him half to death, then told him that the Dollhouse was real, and that he had to stop looking for it. Then she used his gun to shoot a passing patrolman, thereby having him suspended from active duty pending an investigation. And finally, Mellie was gone. The Dollhouse had won the battle.
But the war… that was still going on. He wasn't done yet. Not by a long shot. His suspension meant that he could actually do more now, without having to worry about Agency rules. And the first thing he was going to do was search his apartment. After all, there was no other way they could have known about his movements.
He was about to do just that, when there was a rapping on his door. Instantly alert, he made his way to the door, keeping his hand close to his gun. He wasn't going to be caught off guard again.
His guard was up even further as he lay on eyes the very woman who had almost beaten him to pulp, carrying a shoulder bag. He was mentally preparing himself for another fight.
He quickly discovered that another fight was not on the menu today, as the woman smiled slightly. "Agent Ballard?" she inquired, holding her hand out. "I'm Tru Davies. We spoke about eight months ago concerning a woman named Caroline Farrell."
He blinked a little in surprising, before remembering that fateful phone call. "A pleasure, Miss Davies," he replied, shaking the hand. Mentally, he slapped himself. How could he have missed it? It should have been so obvious. "Uh, please come in."
Tru nodded. "Thank you." She entered quickly, while Ballard shut the door behind her. "I'm sorry to have come without warning, but… work seemed to catch up with me, and I didn't want to waste anymore time."
"Of course." He gestured for her to take a seat heading into the kitchen. "You want anything to drink?"
"Just a glass of water, please."
Nodding, the agent pulled out a few glasses as she sat down in one of the chairs, pulling a manila folder out of her bag. Curious, he watched her as she caught sight of the folder that was already there in surprise. The Dollhouse could make a person into anything they wanted. So why did he have the feeling that this wasn't one of those instances? Could Tru Davies really exist? Filling the glasses up with water, he went into the living room, handing her one. "Here you go."
"Thanks." Tru took a sip. "I just got in an hour ago, so the only things I've done was get settled in my hotel and get some food. Then I tried you workplace, and they told me you were on leave."
"Yeah, well that's just a polite way of them saying that I was suspended."
"Do I want to know what happened?"
"Probably not."
Tru nodded, not pressing the issue any further. She observed him for a moment, with a gaze rivaling his own. "You think I'm Caroline, don't you?" she asked after a moment, not surprised in the slightest.
Ballard nodded, sliding his folder over to her. If it was Caroline, he would have to tread carefully. Her entire back story could be fabricated in an attempt to earn his trust. Then again, it's was entirely possible that Tru Davies did exist. If that were the case… "I received this about five months ago. There was no return address, and only a note saying Keep searching. There was a CD that came with it, a few things on her life, but no mention of any sisters."
He blinked when she smiled. "No, there wouldn't be, would there?" When he tensed, she chuckled. "Relax, Agent Ballard. I'm not her. She doesn't know she has sisters. Hell, I didn't know I had identical sisters until eight months ago, and I still don't know the full story." Her smile vanished as she opened her folder. "But I do know now, and I'm going to find her."
Ah, now that he believed, and understood perfectly. It meant that either the woman before him or the woman he was looking for had been adopted, and the truth kept from them for their own protection. But she had said 'sisters,' which meant only one thing. "Faith Lehane is the other one, isn't she?"
She nodded, taking another drink of water. "I take it you've heard about her," she said, not surprised in the slightest.
"Every law enforcement agency, both federal and local, knows about her. The FBI was called in to locate her after she escaped from prison."
"Which was pretty much what I heard. So she's an escaped felon."
"Yep. She was sentenced to the L.A. Maximum Security Penitentiary on March 13th, 2000 for the murder of Alan Finch, Twenty Five to life. She escaped in 2003."
"March 13th, 2000? That would have made her… eighteen years old! What the hell were they thinking, going for the maximum, especially for a first offense?"
"They were thinking she was dangerous," Ballard replied. "She not only murdered a man, she also tried to frame someone else for the crime, then came here, beat up an innocent man, then tortured another." He frowned. "The only thing she had going for her was the fact that she came in willingly, but the District Attorney pushed for the maximum for a first offense without the possibility for parole. In fact, I heard that he was trying for the death penalty, which was considerably extreme, especially since she showed considerable remorse. That was it. Her prison record was sealed, so I can't tell what made her escape."
Tru leaned back, rubbing her eyes. That meant whatever was going was bigger than the FBI Agent had told her. Why wouldn't anyone tell her what was going on? Was Faith one of those Slayers that had been on the television? And what about Caroline? If how Agent Ballard was holding himself was of any indication, and the fact that he even knew Caroline, meant that he had had met her recently. Probably more than once, and neither ended well for him.
Sighing, she turned the folder around, showing Ballard everything. "This is everything I was able to find about her," she said. "It's just a bunch of articles and her Facebook profile before it disappeared. It's not a whole lot, but I'm betting it's more than what you have."
Ballard nodded in agreement as he took it. "You're probably right." He hesitated for a second, before saying, "Miss Davies… I've seen Caroline recently… except she's not Caroline anymore."
"… Tell me."
"They do what?"
Tru winced as she rubbed her ears, cursing her rather sensitive hearing. Harrison hadn't used the volume since he was thirteen and had been the victim of an atomic wedgie. "They use people as dolls, turning them into whatever they want. A lover, an assassin, a government agent, even your best friend. They could be the person at the bakery, the bouncer at the night club… anyone."
Jack sat down in a nearby chair, shaking his head in disbelief. Of everything that he had seen since he had obtained his powers, this was beyond any of that. This was playing God to a degree that he and Tru would never reach. "And… Caroline is one of them?"
She nodded, her gaze dropping slightly. "She is," she replied quietly. "He learned about who she was when he was alerted by an anonymous package. He even got a CD from her college days. He's coming over later to show it to us."
Harrison looked around the room. "We have a DVD player here, so that shouldn't be a problem," he said. "But, why can't we just see it over at his place?"
"He thinks it's bugged."
Meredith nodded. "Makes sense. If you learn that someone is investigating your organization, you would make damn sure you had a set of eyes on him every second of the day. I wouldn't be surprised if someone was tracking his every move whenever he leaves the apartment." She frowned. "It's possible that they'll start following you if they think you're a threat."
That was a scenario that the younger sister had already considered. "Forewarned is forearmed," she said after a moment. "Besides, if they do, what else can they do to us? Any move they make will instantly be suspicious. And I'm guessing we all have experience of circumventing the police."
"Too true."
"So what do we do?" Jack asked. "How do we find her?"
Tru frowned. "Very carefully," she replied. I just hope they haven't done anything like put her in another body
The first thing Caroline became aware of when the lights faded was that she had a minor headache.
The second thing she discovered was that the sensors had been removed from her skull, though she was still in the chair. She was curious as to what was going on, because she had a feeling it hadn't been five years.
The third thing she became aware of was Topher Brink's face was uncomfortably close to her face, and upside down. He seemed rather anxious. "Topher," she began very softly, "if you do not back away, I'm going to…"
At that moment, she became of the fourth thing of that day. Her voice was the wrong pitch and timbre.
Looking down at her body, or rather, the body she was currently inhabiting. Her skin was a slightly darker color, her breasts were somewhat larger, and her arms were somewhat slimmer. She quickly stood up, making her way over to a nearby mirror, and took a good look at herself. "Topher, why am I blonde? Why am I not in my own body?"
Topher shrugged. "Boss lady's orders. Says she has something she wants to show you."
"So naturally, you put me in the wrong body."
"Actually, she ordered me to put you in another Active's body. I think you're down in the Infirmary."
"What?" In a flash, she was in front of him, pinning him against his console through the sheer force of her gaze, even filtered through a different set of eyes. "I have placed myself at the tender mercies of this organization under the understanding that you would make sure I wasn't seriously injured. I find out that it's because of something you didn't do right, I'll make sure that you're in traction for the next two years!" With that threat hanging in the air, she wheeled around and stalked out of the imprint room.
Topher sent a thank you to the heavens that Caroline Farrell wasn't angry at him… yet. He knew that could change though.
Adelle and Claire were busy trying to figure out how two people could not only look so much alike, but even have the same unique birthmark, when the sound of flesh and bone hitting flesh and bone caught their attention. The older woman sighed, knowing that she should having seen this coming. "Caroline has been successfully imprinted," she said, rubbing her eyes. "And she has hit Mister Dominic." The woman could hold a grudge, that was for damn sure.
"Good." Apparently, Echo could too. And she didn't even know why.
Claire automatically pulled out an ice pack as Caroline, presently in Sierra's body, shoved Dominic through the door, who was busy holding his cheek, restraining a chuckle. Laurence Dominic was not one of her most favorite people in the world.
Caroline took one look at Claire, then to Echo, who was sitting patiently on one of the bed's, feet swinging, then turned her attention to Adelle, eyebrow arched. Adelle nodded, letting her know that she would be getting an answer to that shortly. Outloud, she said, "My apologies for putting you in another body, Caroline. However, there is a matter that I need your opinion on."
"Oh, really?" Caroline drawled. "Then there is a good reason why my body is in the Infirmary… standing there looking as confused as I feel. Am I going to have to hurt someone?"
"You already did," Dominic growled, accepting the ice pack from Claire. He had almost forgotten how hard the young woman can hit, and it seemed that being in the somewhat weaker Sierra hadn't dimmed that in the slightest.
"Be thankful that I didn't break your jaw," she replied, eyes narrowing.
"I am grateful for that," Adelle quickly cut in, before the two of them went to battle once again. She recalled vividly what happened the first time Dominic and Caroline had met in battle. The young woman had left her Chief of Security for dead. She wanted to avoid that a second time around. "Mister Dominic, if you would excuse us?" Ah, how that made the poor man move, though he didn't show it!
Claire waited until he was out of sight, before turning to Echo, who had immediately stood up. "Echo, could you turn around and pulled the waistband of your pants down a little please?"
Echo did so immediately, confused as to why she had to.
Caroline took one look at the glowing birthmark as it was revealed, and sighed in resignation. She had wondered when it would start up again, if it ever did. "So, it's happening again, huh?" she muttered. "Go figure."
The other two women traded surprised looks at that. They had not been expecting that response from her. "This has happened before?" the doctor asked.
Caroline nodded. "Twice. The first time it happened was back in 2000. I was in my first year of college. I was in my senior year in high school when one of those preppy, spoiled rich brats asked if I had a light bulb in my pants. I had to wear underwear before it finally ended." She shuddered a bit at the memory. "The second time was during that rather long eclipse we had back in 2003."
Adelle remembered that week well. She had suspended all engagements and the Dollhouse down during that period of time, knowing full well that the vampire hordes would be out in full force. She would never risk another's life without good reason. "Did you… ever figure out why it did that?" she asked after a moment's contemplation.
"No, though not for lack of trying. I was desperate enough to go to several magic shops and so called mystics to try and figure it out. None of them could help. After a while… I just ignored it."
The older woman nodded in understanding. She would have done the same thing. Worrying about something beyond your control was completely unproductive. "Excellent idea." She turned to Echo. "Echo, you may go now."
Echo straightened her pants out, before heading for the door. Just before crossing the threshold, though, she stopped, and looked at Caroline. "I'll be waiting," was she said, before hading out.
Caroline blinked a little, turning back to Adelle. "I thought Active's weren't aware of their surroundings," she said.
Adelle shrugged. "Echo is basically you; stubborn as a mule. She can recall things from the engagements she has been on, even if it's just a gesture, just to spite me." She smirked. "I like it."
"Well, that was weird."
"You'll get used to it," Claire said quietly. At least, you should." She closed her folder. "Well, I think I'll let you two talk without me listening in." She quickly made her way to the exercise room, where she helped monitor the Actives as they exercised.
"What happened to Saunders?" Caroline immediately asked. "And what the hell happened to Whiskey's face?"
Adelle gestured her to come closer, which she obliged. The last thing she needed was someone coming in and accidentally hear the conversation. "We had an Active… glitch in a most unexpected and violent manner. He… he cut her face up with a knife… then completely snapped when we tried to contain him. He went through a composite event, where he suddenly could access every imprint he ever had, and went on a killing spree. Echo… you… were the only one he left alive in the shower room."
Now that caught Caroline's attention very quickly. She looked at Claire, who was busy helping Victor through his paces. "She doesn't know, does she?"
"… No. I do believe that Topher left her an opening, in case she decided to learn who she was before."
"Ah. So… back to the wedge with me, then?"
Adelle frowned for a second, before shaking her head. "Not yet," she replied. "There is something I need to tell you first… a great deal, in fact." Her gaze met Caroline's easily. "You may wish that I hadn't, though."
'Gee, now why doesn't that sound comforting?' Caroline asked herself cynically.
Three minutes later, she realized how much she understated that thought.
She was presently sitting in Adelle's office, still in Sierra's body, as the older woman shifted through one of her cabinets. From the way she was acting, one would think the world was ending. "What exactly are you looking for?" she asked, her patience slowly wearing thin.
"A… certain kind of book," was the grunted reply. "I… haven't had need of it, so it has been collecting dust in ever since I… assumed control of the House."
"Okay… why?"
"Sentimental value." With a final grunt of victory, Adelle managed to extract the volume she was looking for; a large black book that looked very old. "Much of the world as you know it is based on fact, the rest on supposition and lies. Many of things you believe to be real are illusions, while that which you know is a myth is in fact real." She took the book over to the couch where Caroline was, revealing an intricate gold design on the cover. At the center of the cover was a rather large V. "Tell me, what do you know about vampires?"
"Enough to know not walk down a dark alley at night," Caroline replied. "Why? You gonna tell me they're real?" She caught sight of the older woman's expression. "Oh god, they're real."
"Yes, actually, and far more numerous than anyone ever assumed. And they aren't only kind of demon out there."
"Oh, okay."
Adelle smiled at the tone of Caroline's voice. It was cynical, though it left the possibility open for proof. 'So like Faith,' she thought. "Unfortunately, sunset isn't for another six hours, so physical proof will have to wait until then. And for optimal efficiency, you should be your own body. For now, I can offer you a bit of an explanation." She took a breath, before opening the book, fishing out a photo. "Recognize her?"
Caroline took the picture, and stared at it. "Exactly how long have you been watching me?" she asked immediately, eyes narrowing dangerously. "Was I the intended target for your house this whole time?"
"Are you absolutely certain that this is you?" she was asked in return. "Check the right arm, upper bicep."
The young woman quickly did so, looking at the tribal tattoo on the skin. Her irritation melted away as realization set in, and she whispered, "This is…"
Adelle nodded, fighting the tears that had begun forming in her eyes. "Yes, this is… was… my young charge. Her name was Faith. She was what my former superiors called a Vampire Slayer."
"A Vampire Slayer?" She had heard about them, but only in the supermarket tabloids, which was how the whole world knew about them.
"In every generation, there is a Chosen One," Adelle recited, slightly disturbed by how easily she had managed to fall back into old training. "She alone will stand against the vampire, the demons, and the forces of darkness. She is the Slayer." Sighing, she sat down, rubbing her eyes. "For close to five thousand years, the Slayers have waged a secret war against the minions of hell, trying to protect the world from eternal damnation. Many succeeded in forcing evil back, others were content with holding the line. And until ten years ago, none of them managed to live long… save for the First."
Caroline leaned in, her interest peaked. She had never heard of any of this before, and she was curious to know more. "Who was the First?" she asked. "I mean, how did all of this start?"
"Well… remember when I said that much of history is based on fact, the rest on supposition?" Caroline nodded. "Well, that goes all the way back to ancient times, before man was even created. The world didn't evolve as paleontologists believed it to. The dinosaurs were in fact a race of demons known only as the Old Ones. They were right on how they evolved, though. Some were herbivores, others were carnivores. But they were all demons. And they inhabited the world with another race. The Titans themselves.
"The Earth was a paradise back then. The demons were the dominant race there, though they paid homage to the Titans, most notably Chronos. They enslaved the Cyclops, and every other sub species there were. But destiny could not be stayed. As Greek mythology has stated, the Titans were defeated by their own children, led by Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades, through the use of a powerful being known as the Kraken."
Caroline held up a hand, stopping Adelle for a moment. "Hold on. I thought the Kraken was a Titan that they had captured and imprisoned."
"That was how the myth was written. The Kraken was actually a creation of Hades to combat their parents, due to the fact that they were equal in strength. Zeus also freed every species the Old Ones had enslaved, and forged them into a powerful army that attacked the demons. The Titans were defeated within ten thousand years, though the demons proved far more difficult. It was a war that would last for nearly thirty million years, destroying the paradise and changing the oxygen content in the atmosphere, as well as sending the Earth into an Ice Age. Also, by this time, evolution had selected a certain quirk to challenge the old ones, given enough time."
"Humans?"
"Humans," Adelle said. "Slowly, the apes that eventually came into being evolved into man-ape, then Neanderthal, and finally Homo Sapiens. And when man had finally consolidated into the first primitive city-states, they joined the fight with the Old Ones. Slowly, ever so slowly, the battle turned in the favor of the Gods.
"Finally, about five thousand years ago, the last of the Old Ones retreated to the Underworld, possibly leaving Earth to mammals for all eternity. But at the last possible moment, one of them managed to infect a human, mixing its blood with his. And the first vampire was born."
"And he spread outward like a plague," Caroline summarized, absolutely riveted.
Adelle nodded, pleased that she had the younger woman's attention. "These vampires, known as Turok Han, are different from the vampires modern Slayers are familiar with. They are considerably more powerful and more relentless. They aren't shackled to many of the weaknesses and rules modern vampires must abide by. They can enter a person's residence, are immune to silver, holy water, and crosses. And a stake wouldn't be enough to penetrate their tough skin. Not only that, they had a voracious appetite for blood, much like a crack addict's need for their next fix. But they are more like rabid dogs, not really able to think for themselves. Still, by the end of the first year, there were more than ten thousand strong. On top of that, a new breed of demons was beginning to pop up all over the world, praying on the weaknesses of mankind.
"Zeus, knowing that he would face a second war unless something was done, ordered a group of shaman monks to create a powerful being that could combat them. They located a demon, enslaved it, and selected a young human girl to imbue with its strength. Her strength and speed were doubled to that of a full grown man. She could heal faster and last longer than any other being alive. Her hand/eye coordination was also increased, so she could better strike with lethal intent. She became known as the First Slayer, the matriarch of an entire line."
Caroline blinked as she took it in, amazed by the sheer audacity of their plan. To place the fate of the world on the shoulders of one girl was the act of desperate men. "How'd that turn out?" she asked.
"Initially, it turned out rather well. The First Slayer decimated the Turok Han with a ferocity that rivaled their own, if not surpass it. Like the Old One's before them, they fled into Hell. But some Turok Han blood managed to mingle with the blood of a human. The human's own genes were somehow able to rewrite it somewhat, allowing him, or her, to retain their mind. About four months later, the progenitor of the modern vampires was born."
"And as they could hide a whole lot better among man, making them a whole lot more difficult to track."
Adelle nodded, pleased that she had caught on so quickly. "And, as you have already guessed, all the shamans did was slow evil down." She sighed. "And inadvertently created a monster."
"Huh?"
"The First Slayer had been abused when she was younger. Beaten, mistreated, raped. Back then, despite the evolutionary ability that let them think for themselves, man was still a savage race, especially in Mesopotamia. As a woman, all she would have had was the life of a child bearer. The essence of the demon, as it turned out, fed off of human anger, turning it into power. The angrier a person became, the stronger they became. When she had become a Slayer, she was almost nothing more than a tight ball of fury. She became far more bestial, almost as much of a beast as the creatures she had fought."
"… … How bad did it get?" Caroline asked, sounding like she didn't really want the answer.
Adelle sighed, remembering how she had found out about it. "On the days that she was calm, she could contain it. However, on the days when she was angry… her fury could shatter solid rock and vaporize diamonds. In effect, she had become the most dangerous being on the planet. She roamed Mesopotamia, killing everyone and everything that came her way, regardless of who or what it was."
Caroline began to picture that woman, the life she had lived, and felt nothing but pity. To be abused her entire life, then to be transformed into nothing more than a weapon, was a life that she could never understand, or tolerate. "How did she die?"
"The Powers That Be, those who were chosen to guide Earth's Champions through their destinies, were forced to actively fight her. As the Olympians were busy contending with Argos at the time, it fell upon them to deal with her. Despite her strength, they were simply stronger, so destroying her proved to be a simple feat. Unfortunately, by that time, she had managed to decimate an entire city of ten thousand people. There were no survivors." She sighed. "Afterwards, they got lucky. The essence had immediately transferred to the nearest compatible girl. Unfortunately, the Shamans, who had begun to call themselves the Watcher's Council, had decided that they needed to control their Slayers, and established a set a rules that allowed them to do just that."
"Control…?" The younger woman's eyes narrowed. "They turned their Slayers into weapons. Weapons they could harness and control."
"That they did." Even now, the thought was sickening to her. "Their policies worked for a time. As the world changed around them, as civilization began to expand, as empires rose and fell, the Council gathered as many Potential Slayers as they could, and trained them for the destiny that they could have. They had no friends, and no life to speak of. A few were lucky to remain with their families, as they were the children of prominent bloodlines, but most of the time…"
"And Faith fell into that category."
"Not exactly." Adelle blinked a little, trying to keep her control. "Faith's life ran parallel to the First's in many ways. She was mistreated, abused, and raped for most of her childhood. Her father was the first of a long line who would nearly destroy her. Her mother was no better, high on one drug or another. She eventually died from her addiction… and Faith saw it happen."
In the space of an instant, a whole lot of things became instantly clear to Caroline. "She became the Slayer," she breathed. "And she had the same rage as the First."
"In triplicate. The First was an orphan in the first place, so her rage was towards mankind in general Also, she was unable to use her power until she became the Slayer. Faith, on the other hand, was betrayed by the two people who were supposed to love her most in the world. As a result, her fury knew no limits. And she could access her power by the time we met." Adelle's gaze grew pensive. "As a result of this, she also had a hard time trusting people."
"Not surprising."
"On the other hand, when a person earned her trust, she would protect them with her life. She didn't fight because it was her destiny. She fought to protect the few she cared about, and more. Most Slayers fought to protect the world, so mankind could live on. She fought to change the world. She… she fought for an ideal. For a world where people like her would no longer be needed."
"She was loyal to those she deemed family, expected loyalty in return. And she was hoping for world peace."
Adelle nodded. "She didn't tolerate disloyalty of any kind. And heaven help the poor soul who betrayed her after the fact. If they turned her over to a demon… well, let's just say that she made sure they never did that again."
"… She killed them."
"Mostly, she made them wish that they were never born, but yes, she did kill humans as well. Thankfully, they were people that were every bit a monstrous as vampires, so no one complained too much."
"And then she was killed… by a demon."
"By one of the most ancient and powerful of vampires. He went by the name Kakistos."
"The Worst of the Worse?" Caroline asked.
"Well, yes." Secretly, Adelle was pleased that Caroline knew ancient Greek. "He was created in ancient Greece almost a hundred years after the First Slayer's death, and was so old that his hands and feet had cloven. He was called the Father, the First Evil's truest disciple. There were even rumors that he was responsible for the creation of some of the most dangerous vampires in history, including Count Dracula himself."
"So Kakistos was the one who managed to kill her?"
Adelle's head lowered slightly as she remembered those days. "I'm afraid so," she said. "And I failed to protect her."
There were moments in a person's life when the world seemed to give them a perfect understanding of another. So it was for Caroline in this moment. She truly understood Adelle Dewitt for the first time.
She believed her.
Adelle wiped her eyes clear of tears, turning her attention back to the other woman. "I failed to protect her," she repeated, her face almost completely emotionless. "And I swore that anyone under my protection would not share her fate."
Oddly enough, no more was needed to be said. The Rogue Active's assault told her everything else she needed to know, if the increase of security that she had seen was of any indication. "So… six hours?" she asked, letting the older woman off the hook for now. "Am I going to need anything specific?"
Adelle smiled gratefully, appreciating the effort. "Well, aside from your own body, you're going to need a few things. For starters…"
At night, Los Angeles became a whole different city.
Unlike in small towns like the now destroyed Sunnydale, demons and human criminals tended to avoid one another, considering how some of the humans were every bit as cruel and destructive as the demons. Very few humans walked out there at night, and they usually stayed in well lit areas. Considering how the Slayers were now known, if not all of their individual identities, they knew the risks about staying outside after sunset.
In fact, the only people who were out were the local Slayers, a special team of marines that backed them up…
… and a former Watcher and one of her employees.
Caroline, once more in her own body and happier for it, kept her stake close to her at all times. A cross pendant was now clasped to her throat, an alien sensation, as she had never had anything on her neck before in her life. She had a bottle of holy water in her jacket, just in case it was needed.
Adelle took a look at her, noting how calm she appeared. A small smile started to emerge at that. "Faith had the same aura of calmness," she said conversationally.
"To hide her nervousness and potential fear?" Caroline asked.
"Precisely."
"Looks like we have a whole lot more in common than I thought."
"It would appear so, save for one thing."
"What's that?"
Adelle looked at her. "You had a loving family that you were born into. She did not."
Caroline grinned, leaning in slightly. "Actually, I was adopted, but I can see what you mean."
"Adopted?" That hadn't been in the profile she had read.
The younger woman twirled her stake for a moment, a move oddly reminiscent of Faith. "My Dad told me when I was six. They had adopted me when I was still a baby because Mom couldn't have kids. I never even knew my birth parents, and they didn't know who they were either. I had no way to know, and on a minimum wage job, paying for a genetic test was out of the question. So I figured, to hell with it. They gave me up. Why should I have to look for them?"
Adelle shook her head a little at that cynical attitude. The more she talked to Caroline, the more she seemed like Faith. "Until you meet them, you don't know their motivations behind it. Maybe they didn't want an abortion, or sudden financial difficulties made it impossible to support a child. There are always a lot of factors that are never taken into account." She smiled slightly. "How about when we get back to the Dollhouse, Doctor Saunders runs a genetic test? It may resolve some of the issues."
Caroline frowned for a moment as she thought about it, before finally nodding. "Okay." She at least wanted to know who she was going to tear into.
Adelle nodded, just before turning her attention elsewhere. "Well, well, I think we have something there."
Caroline shifted her attention to in front of them, seeing the hulking figure ahead of them, walking towards them very calmly. Too calmly, in fact. "That a demon?" she asked, shining a flashlight at it.
Adelle shook her head, confused. "No, and I don't know what it is." Her stake was in a side holster in an instant, her hand inching towards her trusty saber. "I think that it is still dangerous to us."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because he is bringing his arm up, and he has a weapon of some kind attached to it." In a lightning fast move, her sword was out, and she was in front of the being, bringing her blade down before he could whatever it was he was going to do.
Claire looked up from her desk as Adelle and Caroline started dropping something in a body bag onto her examination table, Dominic looking particularly confused as Langton explained the situation to him. "No, Adelle, Caroline," she stated immediately. "You can take it to the Morgue if you want to place it anywhere. I won't have anything supernatural contaminating my Infirmary." She frowned. "What is it, by the way?"
Adelle frowned as she and Caroline complied. "We're not exactly sure," she replied as they entered the adjoining room. "All I know is that it was dangerous, and that it took a whole lot more than a single sword slash to take it down."
"Yeah, like Dewitt almost taking his head off after about six minutes of combat, and a whole lot of lead," Caroline added, glaring at her shirt before focusing back on moving the body bag. "Piece of shit almost scratched me!"
"You should have been a little faster dodging."
"You should have actually taken his head off with that first shot. And your kick was a little low."
"I haven't fought in over a decade, our little tussle notwithstanding. And your block was a little weak."
"A little weak!"
"If you two are done!" Claire thundered at long last, her patience at an end. "Miss Dewitt, you're having an argument with Caroline about your combat performances in my Infirmary! Take it elsewhere!"
Both women started, having never heard her use that tone of voice before. Then again, neither had ever had the privilege of witnessing a Topher/ Claire clash at lunch either. "Sorry, Doc," Caroline mumbled.
Adelle, by contrast, had a curious smile on her face. The debate seemed to trigger a memory within her. "You know, I actually did the same thing with Faith when she started going on patrol with me. It was one of the ways we used to unwind after a hard night."
"And what does this classify?" Claire asked.
Grunting a little as they finally set the body bag on the slab, Caroline shook her arms out. "Something out of a sci fi show," she replied, reaching for the zipper and pulling it open completely. "Well, see for yourself."
Claire took a look at the body, and blinked. Forcing herself to remain objective and clinical, she took a closer look at the body. She had never seen anything like this before, and she had a feeling this was out of Adelle's comfort zone as well. "It looks like it's a cybernetic lifeform, which you already know. But the cranial ridges here… you found this thing down an alley?"
Caroline nodded. "It's no demon, and I'm no expert when it comes to the supernatural, but I'm getting the feeling the demons don't cross this guy."
"Well then, I'll do the autopsy in the morning. In the meantime, I would suggest that you both get some sleep."
Caroline sighed. "Well, back to the chair with me," she sighed, rubbing her eyes. "And I was really enjoying being in my own body again." She started for the Imprint Room.
"Actually…" Claire smiled. "If Miss Dewitt doesn't mind, I'm pretty sure Topher could use some help with the computer systems. I believe you've has some experience clearing particularly stubborn viruses from compute mainframes. Maybe you can help him understand this new one better."
Adelle frowned, even as Dominic and Langton came to the entrance of the Morgue. "You know, that's not such a bad idea." She turned to Caroline. "My couch is open if you want to take the engagement."
Caroline didn't even have to think. Anything to stave off her return to darkness. "Of course I will."
"Then we'll get started at nine. I'll be prepping our new guest."
"Ma'am…" Dominic began."
"She will be within the Dollhouse during the day," Adelle reminded him curtly. "And she will be at my apartment at night. "Also, Caroline is not one to leave a contract half finished. She will not try and run."
"Besides," Caroline added. "It means I get another shot at your ugly face." She smirked at his dumbfounded and slightly frightened expression, pleased to see that she got her point across.
Then her gaze slid over to Langton, and stayed there. For some reason, she felt like she could trust him with her life. But at the same time, she knew that she couldn't.
After all, he was the co head of Rossum Corporation.
Tru stepped out of the shower, grabbing a towel to wrap around herself while she used another to dry her hair. It was a true blessing that the motel's showers were working beautifully, as it had been a rather stressful day for her. Otherwise, relaxation would have been far more difficult to achieve.
The information she had acquired concerning the Dollhouse was nothing short of unbelievable. To think that her sister could be one of those… dolls… was enough to make her angry. And when she was angry, she wasn't nice to be around.
So whenever she was angry, she took a shower. It was how she handled her stress without lashing out at family and friends. It was also one of the coping mechanisms she used when dealing with the aftermath of a rewind day.
Tossing the towel she had used to dry her hair aside, the young woman began brushing her hair out to get rid of the tangles as she thought about her life. And promptly winced as she hit a particularly stubborn knot.
"Hey, Tru! You done in there?"
On the other hand, Jack's mere presence had been more than enough to soothe her when everything else failed. And, despite Harrison's groaning and 'dire' warnings, she had opted for her counterpart to room with her, while Meredith promised to keep an eye on their younger brother.
Smiling, the young woman turned her attention to the bathroom door. "Yeah, I'm done!" she replied. "And to make things better for you, I left you some hot water!" She had a sudden urge to prance around him in just the towel, or even better, nothing at all, just to see his reaction. By that same note, she didn't know if her family was in the room, and didn't want to end up flashing them too. She'd never live it down. "Hey, Jack, is Harry or Meredith there?"
"Nope. I figure that we've got another half hour of privacy before they show up and ruin your life."
The wicked thought came to the fore one again, and she grinned. "I'll be out in a moment." She had brought her clothes in with her, of course, but where was the fun in that? She dropped the towel, turned to set the brush down… and stared at the impossible in the mirror.
She had to be seeing things. That was it. There was no other explanation for why her birthmark was glowing like that. She looked down. Nope, she wasn't seeing things. It was actually glowing.
Suddenly, her desire to be an exhibitionist vanished. And she had been so hoping for the surprises in her life to end.
And here is Chapter Five. It will be a while for Chapter Six, as I have yet to right it, but it's going to take a departure from the Trinity for now, and shift somewhere completely unexpected. I'm hoping to throw in quite a few surprises into this story before the end. So please read and review.