Chapter 7

…Other Strange Happenings…

Xander and Cordelia strolled into the pool room as they looked for any of the other members of the team.

Xander rubbed the back of his neck nervously as he thought of gill girl and her mate. If he changed, he would prefer to at least look somewhat human like those aquatic transhumans did.

"Giles must have rounded up the other members," Cordelia said as she looked around, "Unless they're in the locker room."

"Wait here," Xander said as he looked around and headed toward the lockers and subsequently the showers, "If I'm not back in two… come lookin' for me."

Cordelia sat down on the bottom step of the bleachers to wait for him.

Suddenly, the back of her neck tingled slightly as her genetic instincts took over. Something was in the room with her.

Nervously, she headed toward the lockers. She heard a noise near the door and turned, expecting to see her boyfriend.

She screamed, startled, as a creature entered the room from the locker room and jumped into the pool.

"Oh, my God," she whispered, "Please don't be Xander."

She hedged her way to the edge of the pool and watched the creature swim under the water. "Alec? It's me, Max," she was very upset but she used a soothing tone as she spoke, "I know you can't say anything, but you were trying to help those guys." She frowned as she continued, "You looked REALLY hot in that Speedo…"

Xander smirked as he walked up behind her, "Max, that's cute and all…"

The other transgenic spun around to look up at him.

"But that thing's not me," he pointed toward the creature.

Cordelia dove at him, hugging him. "Alec!" she exclaimed in relief.

The pair both jumped, more like leaped inhumanly, away as the creature in the pool lunged for them. Xander pulled Cordelia by the hand as they led the thing out of the pool room and down the hall.

…Just a Rat in a Cage…

The rest of the swim team had changed into monsters. They milled around in the cage as the Scoobies, and Giles, observed them curiously.

"Everyone's accounted for," Cordelia stated with a frown, "the whole swim team, minus Xander, turned."

"Where's Buffy?" Xander asked as he looked at the creatures with a disgusted frown on his face.

"She's not back yet," Willow said as she watched the monsters from a safe distance.

…You Pulled a Sneak Attack…

Xander saw the coach leaning over a hole in the floor. The young man frowned darkly as he stealthily moved to stand behind the coach.

"What's goin' on?" the X5 asked quietly in a dangerous tone.

Coach Marin straightened, startled, "Harris! How are you?"

"I'm alright," the young man said as he circled the coach, not unlike a leopard rounding on its prey, ready for the kill.

The young man gave a snarling, half smile as he asked, "Do you know where Buffy is?" His nostrils flared slightly as he picked up the Slayer's distinctive scent under the noxious fish smell.

The coach gave a nervous half smile as he slipped a hand into one of the pockets of his jacket and gave a shark like smile as he fingered the pistol in his pocket.

The shot was loud as the bullet ripped a gash in Xander's shoulder.

The transgenic snarled as he leapt at the Coach at inhuman speed and grabbed the wrist of the man's gun hand in a crushing grasp breaking bones in his wrist. He punched the man in the jaw with a tight fist and the coach sank to the ground, down for the count.

Xander clutched his injured arm and looked down into the hole. He noticed the blonde Slayer and reached down, "Buff," he said as he used his uninjured arm, "Give me your hand."

Buffy leapt up the ten feet and grabbed the transgenic's hand.

Using strength the young woman did not know he had, Xander easily pulled her out of the hole pretending to struggle as he pulled her up and out of the hole.

"Thanks," the blonde said as Xander clutched his injured shoulder.

"You're hurt," she observed.

"I'll be alright," the young man said as he lifted his shirt. "It's just a graze."

Buffy knelt on the ground as she regained her breath. Her eyes widened as the coach loomed up behind Xander with a metal baseball bat.

"Hang on," the transgenic said as, from his crouched position, he shot up off the ground, spun in mid air and kicked the coach in the face. The blow took the coach out a second time.

"Wow!" the Slayer said, wide eyed as she watched her friend land in a crouch.