A/N Get ready for the newest addition to my story collection. "My Own
Version of the Buffyverse 2" will be hitting fanfic.net soon! If you
haven't read the first, get on it! Thanx!
It was a bright day outside and Buffy squinted against the light. She immediately opened her eyes again because the squint tugged on her still tender cut. As she walked up to a place where four sidewalks met hers, she saw Angel, Giles, Xander, and Willow each coming down one of them. "Where's Anya?" Buffy asked Xander.
"Oddly, Anya decided not to join us, despite all the fun we had at our last meeting."
"And I don't think Tara felt welcome." Willow said.
"Why? Because of the things that we said?" Buffy asked. Willow nodded. "Will, who told you we were talking behind your back, specifically?"
"Well, um.. Spike, specifically, but.."
"And who told you that we thought you'd be better off joining the Army?" Buffy asked Xander.
"That's not.. exactly what he said." Xander said.
"Angel?"
"I, uh.. He.. Well, damn." Angel said.
Buffy looked at Giles. "Well, uh.. S-S-Spike can be very convincing when- when-when, uh.. I'm very stupid." He said.
"He played us. He wanted us to fight to split us up. That's where it came from. The stuff we said the other night." Buffy said.
"Of course. Well, piffle, let's move on."
"I'm movin'." Xander said.
"Me too." Willow said.
"Already gone." Angel said with a small smile.
"Good. Great." Buffy said.
"So.. why do you think Spike made with the head games?" Willow asked.
"He's all dressed up with no one to bite. He's gotta get his ya-yas somehow." Xander said.
"I think it was more than that. I think it was Adam." Buffy said.
"Spike's working for Adam?! After all we've done.. nah, I can't even act surprised."
"Are you sure?" Angel asked.
"I just went to Adam's lair and he was gone. But, Spike just happened to be there. He made this big noise about getting information off those encrypted disks." Buffy said.
"Oh, I decrypted them." Willow said. "Well, they decrypted themselves, but I almost had it."
"What did they say?" Angel asked.
"A bunch of stuff we already know about 314. But it also said there's some final phase where Adam manufactures a bunch of creepy cyber-demonoids like him. There's a special lab in The Initiative, but it didn't say where."
"Adam fed Spike those disks. It has to be. He wanted me to know about his evil-guy assembly line. This lab, it's in the Initiative?" Buffy asked.
"Hidden somewhere."
"We'll give the demon his due. He thought this one out."
"What do you mean?"
"You know how overcrowded the containment cells have been at the Initiative? Those demons were just too easy to catch. It's like they wanted in that place."
"The Trojan horse." Angel said.
"Adam's gonna make sure the demons attack the Initiative from the inside."
"Demons versus soldiers. Massacre, massacre." Xander said.
"And Adam has a neat pile of body parts to start assembling his army. Diabolical, yet.. gross." Willow said.
"Does anybody else miss the Mayor, I just wanna be a big snake?"
"I've got to shut him down, Giles. His final phase is about to start." Buffy said.
"We need to warn the Initiative." Giles said.
"They're not gonna listen to me."
"Riley?" Willow asked.
Buffy noticed the flicker of jealousy in Angel's eyes as she said, "He's a deserter. He got some bad news anyway, and kinda took off."
"Okay, I'm confused again. Adam has this evil plan. Why is he so anxious for you to know about it?" Xander asked.
"He wants me there. Probably figures I'll even the kill ratio."
"He's not worried you might kill, oh say, him?"
"No, he's really not."
"We need to get crackin' then. I vote research and then break and enter."
"Good plan." Buffy sighed. "Giles, your place free?"
"As it's always been." Giles said.
"Good. You guys go on ahead. Angel and I will meet you there."
"What are you going to do?" Willow asked. Buffy looked at her evenly and Willow made a silent "Oh" and followed the rest of the Scooby Gang.
Buffy watched them until they were out of earshot before she turned to Angel. He spoke before she could even open her mouth.
"Buffy, I know you must think I'm a jealous asshole right about now, but it's only because when you're around other guys that I know like you, I go a little nuts. On the one hand, I should believe in us. But on the other, sometimes things happen between two people and when I saw that you were giving him a little more attention than you give other guys like him, I just.."
"Angel, stop." Buffy said.
"See, nuts."
"Have I ever given you any reason to feel that you can't trust me?"
"No."
"Then why with the crazy?"
"Because I'm so in love with you I can't think straight. I never have been able to think straight around you."
"Tell me about it."
"I love you more than life itself and I can't stand the thought of ever losing you. You're the first person I've ever loved and if I lose that feeling, if I lost YOU, I'd probably die."
"No, you wouldn't. Sure, you'd put roses on my grave for about 100 years or so, but you would go on living. You'd do it because you know it would honor me greatly and it would keep our love alive on this plane until we meet again in the next. We're soul mates, Angel. No power on this earth, in hell, or in heaven can do a thing to keep us apart. But for right now, I'm not ready to say goodbye."
Angel stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. Buffy held on to him tight, not ever wanting to let go. Never again would things get so weird between them. It was their first major fight since they met and Buffy didn't like the feeling in her soul afterwards. There would be some major making up later in the bedroom and Buffy wasn't going to miss that for the world.
Twenty minutes later, Buffy, Angel, and the others were standing around Giles' apartment going through his weapons. Xander was at the weapons chest, Willow sat on the arm of the couch, Giles, Buffy, and Angel stood around the desk.
"Certainly no lack of supplies. I only wish I knew which ones would kill Adam." Giles said.
"According to Riley, his power source is uranium core embedded somewhere inside his chest. Probably near the spine." Buffy said.
"Great, so we just ask him to lie down quietly while we do some exploratory surgery." Xander said.
"What about magic?" Angel asked.
"Oh! Yeah, some kind of, I don't know.. uranium extracting spell? Willow said. They all turned to stare at her. "I know. I'm reaching."
"Perhaps a paralyzing spell." Giles said. He walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a book, flipping to a certain page and then sighing. "Only I can't perform the incantation for this."
"Right. Don't you have to speak it in Sumerian or something?"
"I do speak Sumerian. It's not that. Only a...an experienced witch can incant it, and you'd have to be within striking distance of this object."
"See what you get for taking French instead of Sumerian?" Xander asked Buffy.
"What was I thinking?" Buffy asked sarcastically.
"So no problem, all we need is combo Buffy with Slayer strength, Angel with his vamp-y strength, Giles' multi-lingual know how, and Willow's witchy power." Giles looked at Xander. "Yeah, don't tell me. I'm just full of helpful suggestions."
"As a matter of fact, you are."
Buffy, Angel, and the rest of the group walked through Lowell House. Buffy and Angel were in the lead while Xander, Willow, and Giles walked behind them.
"Nervous?" Willow asked.
"No way. I'm full of that good old kamikaze spirit." Xander said.
"Xander, just because this is never gonna work, there's no need to be negative." Giles said.
"The adjoining spell, is it powerful enough to defeat Adam?" Willow asked.
"It's very powerful. It's also extraordinarily dangerous."
"Game faces guys. We're going in." Buffy said as she and Angel side kicked the mirror hiding the elevator shaft. The shards fell down as they turned and started to get strapped up to their harnesses. Willow and Buffy went down first, then Angel and Xander, then Giles. About half way down, Buffy turned to look at Willow as they kept descending. "How you doing?"
"Super. What was I thinkin', using stairs all this time?" Willow said.
"Ok. Will.."
"No, really, Buffy. It's not as scary as I thought."
"No. It's not what I was gonna say. I just.. I'm sorry. I hate that things have been so strained between all of us."
"It's not your fault. Spike stirred up trouble."
"Yeah, but I think trouble was stir-uppable. I think we've all sort of drifted apart this year, don't you?"
"Maybe a little. But, you know, first year of college, it's hard to keep the old high school gang together."
"But I want it together. Will, I miss you. And Giles, and Xander. And it is my fault. I've been wrapped up in my own stuff, I've been a bad friend."
"You're the Slayer, Buffy. Your stuff is pretty crucial."
"I mean Angel. And.. Angel, mostly."
"Well, I haven't been Miss Available either. I-I kept secrets. I hid things from everyone."
"That's not your fault. Will, you were going through something huge."
"I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared."
"You can tell me anything. I love you. You're my best friend." Buffy reached over at the same time Willow did and they hugged.
"Me, too. I love you too." Willow said just as they started to fall. "Oh, falling now!"
They climbed down the last few feet and unstrapped their harnesses. As soon as the lines were cleared, they were hugging tightly.
"Let's promise to never not talk again." Buffy said.
"I promise, I promise." Willow said.
Xander and Angel slid down nest to the girls and the two wrapped the guys in a big group hug.
"Guys!" Buffy said.
"Oh, wonderful guys!" Willow said.
"You know we love you, right?"
"We totally do."
"Oh God, we're gonna die, aren't we?" Xander said.
"No, we just missed you." Willow said.
Xander looked up as they continued to hug. "Giles, hurry up! You definitely wanna get down here for this!"
Angel kissed Buffy then turned to Willow and kissed the top of her head. "I couldn't ask for a better family."
Giles reached the bottom and they all gathered around him and pulled him into the big group hug. Buffy's family was back together and stronger than ever. She loved each and every one of them. Giles was like her father, Xander and Willow were her best friends, and Angel was the man who loved her. She couldn't ask for a better family than this.
"I really do hate to interrupt this, but we need to get cracking. We haven't much time." Giles said.
They all broke apart, except for Buffy, Angel, and Willow who continued to hold hands, and Giles and Xander went to work on trying to open the doors to the main part of the Initiative.
"Okay, we stick together, then everything should be fine. Everybody ready?" Buffy asked. Giles got the door open. "Let's.." The door opened to reveal 5 Commando guys with laser blasters. ".. do this." She finished.
"Get out. You're coming with us." One of the Commandos said.
The gang obliged and followed them down a hallway. They were led into an office. It was the Colonel's office. They took her bag and handed it to the Colonel.
"Colonel.." Buffy started.
"Shut up. You've got some nerve, lady." The Colonel said, unzipping the bag. "You think you and your friends can just keep waltzing into a government installation brandishing weapons like.." The Colonel tried, pulling out a gourd. "Like.."
"It's a gourd." Willow said.
"A magic gourd." Giles said.
"What kind of freaks are you people?" the Colonel asked.
"Adam is here, Colonel. In the Initiative." Angel said.
"Nice try."
"Those overcrowded containment cells of yours: courtesy of Adam. He's pulling a Trojan Horse on you, he's just waiting.." Buffy tried.
"Everything in this installation is under 24-hour surveillance."
"Including the secret lab?" Angel asked.
"Including everything!" There was a beat then, "What secret lab?"
"The one Adam's been using. The one built for the final stage of the 314 project." Buffy said. She looked at the blank stare the Colonel gave her. "And you have no idea what I'm talking about."
"I know everything that goes on around here. A tick on a mouse couldn't get in without my knowing it. And if Adam wants to try we're ready for him."
"Jolly good. How-How exactly do you plan to get close enough to Adam to remove his power source?" Giles asked.
"Hit him simultaneously with multiple taser blasters. Incapacitate him with as much voltage as we can muster."
"Great plan. That's right up there with 'duck and cover'." Angel said.
"I've seen Adam hit with taser blasts. He feeds on it. And now you're gonna provide him with an all-you-can-eat buffet?" Buffy asked angrily.
"You telling me my business?" the Colonel asked.
"This is not your business. It's mine. You, the Initiative, the boys at the Pentagon.. you're all in way over your heads. Messing with primeval forces you have absolutely no comprehension of."
"And you do?"
"Wrong question." Angel said.
"I'm the Slayer. You're playing on my turf." Buffy seethed.
"Up there, maybe. But down here, I'm the one who's in control." The Colonel said.
Suddenly the lights went out and a man at a computer said, "Sir, the power grid's down. Backup's not responding. We're locked in."
They all watched as the containment doors were opened and all the demons realized they were free just as two humans walked through the corridor. Buffy moved closer to Angel and he put his arm around her shoulders as they saw the two people were slaughtered.
"Containment area's been breached. Hostiles are loose." The guy at the computer said.
"How many?" the Colonel asked.
"All of 'em, Sir."
"And it's Adam." Buffy said. She moved away from Angel. "Look, I'm the only one who can stop him now. Just let me handle this. Get your people out of here."
"All right, you men follow me. We gotta take the Armory now," the Colonel said.
"Sir." The guy said.
"Colonel." Angel said.
"These people are under arrest, do you understand?" The Colonel said as he and a bunch of the soldiers left.
"Yes sir." The one of the soldiers left in the room said.
One of them stood up and Buffy kicked him in the chest. Another soldier tried to attack her, but she banged his head into the desk, then hit him in the face, knocking him out cold.
"We've gotta find Adam." Buffy said.
"On it." Willow said, sitting at a computer monitor and getting to work.
Giles turned to talk to Buffy and Angel. "The enjoining spell is extremely touchy. It's, uh, volatile. We-We can't risk it being interrupted. We need a place that's close to you, Buffy, and quiet."
"Uh quiet?" Xander asked. They turned to look at one of the computer screens. The main part of the Initiative's huge lab was a war. Demons, vampires, soldiers, and scientists fought between races. It was a mad house with fires raging in parts of the place.
Buffy turned away and walked to Willow. "How we doing, Will?"
"Done. Hold on. According to this, there's air ducts and electrical conduits all running into there." Willow said.
"So?"
"So, there's no THERE there. Look."
"It's Adam."
"You sure?" Angel asked.
"Right behind 314." Buffy looked at Willow. "Can you unlock it?"
"I don't have to. All-All the locks in the Initiative have been disengaged.. except for the exits." Willow said.
"Demon open house." Xander muttered.
"Great. So we know we're going to 314. Now all we have to do is get there." Angel said.
"Weapons?" Angel asked.
As soon as each of them were armed with what they needed, Buffy and Angel burst through the door ahead of the gang into the 'demon open house.' Buffy punched a demon in its face. Angel kicked a demon in the leg, shattering the kneecap. Buffy gave a sidekick to another demon. Xander hit one demon with a laser blast. They all ran past. Another demon tried to hit Buffy, but Angel hit him first. She saw a soldier with a gun. Buffy pushed Willow.
"Willow down! Come on!" Buffy yelled.
"Go!" Willow said, pushing Giles and Xander.
Buffy and Angel followed the gang through the door and slammed it behind them. They were 314.
"Okay, it should be over here." Buffy said.
The rest of the gang started to barricade the door. Buffy opened the two doors that looked like a wall's corner and turned back to the gang.
"Once I'm in, barricade the door behind me. Is this place okay to be Magic Central?" Buffy asked.
"It, uh, should do." Giles said.
"As long as we don't get blowed up or nothin'." Willow said.
"What are the odds of that?" Xander asked.
"How long before the ritual kicks in?" Angel asked.
"Five minutes, give or take."
"Buffy, I still don't like you going in alone."
"I won't be." Buffy gave Angel a deep kiss and then walked through the doors.
Willow and Angel barricaded the doors and got to work. Giles and Xander had already started to set up the spell. As soon as things were in place, Willow began.
It was a bright day outside and Buffy squinted against the light. She immediately opened her eyes again because the squint tugged on her still tender cut. As she walked up to a place where four sidewalks met hers, she saw Angel, Giles, Xander, and Willow each coming down one of them. "Where's Anya?" Buffy asked Xander.
"Oddly, Anya decided not to join us, despite all the fun we had at our last meeting."
"And I don't think Tara felt welcome." Willow said.
"Why? Because of the things that we said?" Buffy asked. Willow nodded. "Will, who told you we were talking behind your back, specifically?"
"Well, um.. Spike, specifically, but.."
"And who told you that we thought you'd be better off joining the Army?" Buffy asked Xander.
"That's not.. exactly what he said." Xander said.
"Angel?"
"I, uh.. He.. Well, damn." Angel said.
Buffy looked at Giles. "Well, uh.. S-S-Spike can be very convincing when- when-when, uh.. I'm very stupid." He said.
"He played us. He wanted us to fight to split us up. That's where it came from. The stuff we said the other night." Buffy said.
"Of course. Well, piffle, let's move on."
"I'm movin'." Xander said.
"Me too." Willow said.
"Already gone." Angel said with a small smile.
"Good. Great." Buffy said.
"So.. why do you think Spike made with the head games?" Willow asked.
"He's all dressed up with no one to bite. He's gotta get his ya-yas somehow." Xander said.
"I think it was more than that. I think it was Adam." Buffy said.
"Spike's working for Adam?! After all we've done.. nah, I can't even act surprised."
"Are you sure?" Angel asked.
"I just went to Adam's lair and he was gone. But, Spike just happened to be there. He made this big noise about getting information off those encrypted disks." Buffy said.
"Oh, I decrypted them." Willow said. "Well, they decrypted themselves, but I almost had it."
"What did they say?" Angel asked.
"A bunch of stuff we already know about 314. But it also said there's some final phase where Adam manufactures a bunch of creepy cyber-demonoids like him. There's a special lab in The Initiative, but it didn't say where."
"Adam fed Spike those disks. It has to be. He wanted me to know about his evil-guy assembly line. This lab, it's in the Initiative?" Buffy asked.
"Hidden somewhere."
"We'll give the demon his due. He thought this one out."
"What do you mean?"
"You know how overcrowded the containment cells have been at the Initiative? Those demons were just too easy to catch. It's like they wanted in that place."
"The Trojan horse." Angel said.
"Adam's gonna make sure the demons attack the Initiative from the inside."
"Demons versus soldiers. Massacre, massacre." Xander said.
"And Adam has a neat pile of body parts to start assembling his army. Diabolical, yet.. gross." Willow said.
"Does anybody else miss the Mayor, I just wanna be a big snake?"
"I've got to shut him down, Giles. His final phase is about to start." Buffy said.
"We need to warn the Initiative." Giles said.
"They're not gonna listen to me."
"Riley?" Willow asked.
Buffy noticed the flicker of jealousy in Angel's eyes as she said, "He's a deserter. He got some bad news anyway, and kinda took off."
"Okay, I'm confused again. Adam has this evil plan. Why is he so anxious for you to know about it?" Xander asked.
"He wants me there. Probably figures I'll even the kill ratio."
"He's not worried you might kill, oh say, him?"
"No, he's really not."
"We need to get crackin' then. I vote research and then break and enter."
"Good plan." Buffy sighed. "Giles, your place free?"
"As it's always been." Giles said.
"Good. You guys go on ahead. Angel and I will meet you there."
"What are you going to do?" Willow asked. Buffy looked at her evenly and Willow made a silent "Oh" and followed the rest of the Scooby Gang.
Buffy watched them until they were out of earshot before she turned to Angel. He spoke before she could even open her mouth.
"Buffy, I know you must think I'm a jealous asshole right about now, but it's only because when you're around other guys that I know like you, I go a little nuts. On the one hand, I should believe in us. But on the other, sometimes things happen between two people and when I saw that you were giving him a little more attention than you give other guys like him, I just.."
"Angel, stop." Buffy said.
"See, nuts."
"Have I ever given you any reason to feel that you can't trust me?"
"No."
"Then why with the crazy?"
"Because I'm so in love with you I can't think straight. I never have been able to think straight around you."
"Tell me about it."
"I love you more than life itself and I can't stand the thought of ever losing you. You're the first person I've ever loved and if I lose that feeling, if I lost YOU, I'd probably die."
"No, you wouldn't. Sure, you'd put roses on my grave for about 100 years or so, but you would go on living. You'd do it because you know it would honor me greatly and it would keep our love alive on this plane until we meet again in the next. We're soul mates, Angel. No power on this earth, in hell, or in heaven can do a thing to keep us apart. But for right now, I'm not ready to say goodbye."
Angel stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace. Buffy held on to him tight, not ever wanting to let go. Never again would things get so weird between them. It was their first major fight since they met and Buffy didn't like the feeling in her soul afterwards. There would be some major making up later in the bedroom and Buffy wasn't going to miss that for the world.
Twenty minutes later, Buffy, Angel, and the others were standing around Giles' apartment going through his weapons. Xander was at the weapons chest, Willow sat on the arm of the couch, Giles, Buffy, and Angel stood around the desk.
"Certainly no lack of supplies. I only wish I knew which ones would kill Adam." Giles said.
"According to Riley, his power source is uranium core embedded somewhere inside his chest. Probably near the spine." Buffy said.
"Great, so we just ask him to lie down quietly while we do some exploratory surgery." Xander said.
"What about magic?" Angel asked.
"Oh! Yeah, some kind of, I don't know.. uranium extracting spell? Willow said. They all turned to stare at her. "I know. I'm reaching."
"Perhaps a paralyzing spell." Giles said. He walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out a book, flipping to a certain page and then sighing. "Only I can't perform the incantation for this."
"Right. Don't you have to speak it in Sumerian or something?"
"I do speak Sumerian. It's not that. Only a...an experienced witch can incant it, and you'd have to be within striking distance of this object."
"See what you get for taking French instead of Sumerian?" Xander asked Buffy.
"What was I thinking?" Buffy asked sarcastically.
"So no problem, all we need is combo Buffy with Slayer strength, Angel with his vamp-y strength, Giles' multi-lingual know how, and Willow's witchy power." Giles looked at Xander. "Yeah, don't tell me. I'm just full of helpful suggestions."
"As a matter of fact, you are."
Buffy, Angel, and the rest of the group walked through Lowell House. Buffy and Angel were in the lead while Xander, Willow, and Giles walked behind them.
"Nervous?" Willow asked.
"No way. I'm full of that good old kamikaze spirit." Xander said.
"Xander, just because this is never gonna work, there's no need to be negative." Giles said.
"The adjoining spell, is it powerful enough to defeat Adam?" Willow asked.
"It's very powerful. It's also extraordinarily dangerous."
"Game faces guys. We're going in." Buffy said as she and Angel side kicked the mirror hiding the elevator shaft. The shards fell down as they turned and started to get strapped up to their harnesses. Willow and Buffy went down first, then Angel and Xander, then Giles. About half way down, Buffy turned to look at Willow as they kept descending. "How you doing?"
"Super. What was I thinkin', using stairs all this time?" Willow said.
"Ok. Will.."
"No, really, Buffy. It's not as scary as I thought."
"No. It's not what I was gonna say. I just.. I'm sorry. I hate that things have been so strained between all of us."
"It's not your fault. Spike stirred up trouble."
"Yeah, but I think trouble was stir-uppable. I think we've all sort of drifted apart this year, don't you?"
"Maybe a little. But, you know, first year of college, it's hard to keep the old high school gang together."
"But I want it together. Will, I miss you. And Giles, and Xander. And it is my fault. I've been wrapped up in my own stuff, I've been a bad friend."
"You're the Slayer, Buffy. Your stuff is pretty crucial."
"I mean Angel. And.. Angel, mostly."
"Well, I haven't been Miss Available either. I-I kept secrets. I hid things from everyone."
"That's not your fault. Will, you were going through something huge."
"I wanted to tell you, but I was so scared."
"You can tell me anything. I love you. You're my best friend." Buffy reached over at the same time Willow did and they hugged.
"Me, too. I love you too." Willow said just as they started to fall. "Oh, falling now!"
They climbed down the last few feet and unstrapped their harnesses. As soon as the lines were cleared, they were hugging tightly.
"Let's promise to never not talk again." Buffy said.
"I promise, I promise." Willow said.
Xander and Angel slid down nest to the girls and the two wrapped the guys in a big group hug.
"Guys!" Buffy said.
"Oh, wonderful guys!" Willow said.
"You know we love you, right?"
"We totally do."
"Oh God, we're gonna die, aren't we?" Xander said.
"No, we just missed you." Willow said.
Xander looked up as they continued to hug. "Giles, hurry up! You definitely wanna get down here for this!"
Angel kissed Buffy then turned to Willow and kissed the top of her head. "I couldn't ask for a better family."
Giles reached the bottom and they all gathered around him and pulled him into the big group hug. Buffy's family was back together and stronger than ever. She loved each and every one of them. Giles was like her father, Xander and Willow were her best friends, and Angel was the man who loved her. She couldn't ask for a better family than this.
"I really do hate to interrupt this, but we need to get cracking. We haven't much time." Giles said.
They all broke apart, except for Buffy, Angel, and Willow who continued to hold hands, and Giles and Xander went to work on trying to open the doors to the main part of the Initiative.
"Okay, we stick together, then everything should be fine. Everybody ready?" Buffy asked. Giles got the door open. "Let's.." The door opened to reveal 5 Commando guys with laser blasters. ".. do this." She finished.
"Get out. You're coming with us." One of the Commandos said.
The gang obliged and followed them down a hallway. They were led into an office. It was the Colonel's office. They took her bag and handed it to the Colonel.
"Colonel.." Buffy started.
"Shut up. You've got some nerve, lady." The Colonel said, unzipping the bag. "You think you and your friends can just keep waltzing into a government installation brandishing weapons like.." The Colonel tried, pulling out a gourd. "Like.."
"It's a gourd." Willow said.
"A magic gourd." Giles said.
"What kind of freaks are you people?" the Colonel asked.
"Adam is here, Colonel. In the Initiative." Angel said.
"Nice try."
"Those overcrowded containment cells of yours: courtesy of Adam. He's pulling a Trojan Horse on you, he's just waiting.." Buffy tried.
"Everything in this installation is under 24-hour surveillance."
"Including the secret lab?" Angel asked.
"Including everything!" There was a beat then, "What secret lab?"
"The one Adam's been using. The one built for the final stage of the 314 project." Buffy said. She looked at the blank stare the Colonel gave her. "And you have no idea what I'm talking about."
"I know everything that goes on around here. A tick on a mouse couldn't get in without my knowing it. And if Adam wants to try we're ready for him."
"Jolly good. How-How exactly do you plan to get close enough to Adam to remove his power source?" Giles asked.
"Hit him simultaneously with multiple taser blasters. Incapacitate him with as much voltage as we can muster."
"Great plan. That's right up there with 'duck and cover'." Angel said.
"I've seen Adam hit with taser blasts. He feeds on it. And now you're gonna provide him with an all-you-can-eat buffet?" Buffy asked angrily.
"You telling me my business?" the Colonel asked.
"This is not your business. It's mine. You, the Initiative, the boys at the Pentagon.. you're all in way over your heads. Messing with primeval forces you have absolutely no comprehension of."
"And you do?"
"Wrong question." Angel said.
"I'm the Slayer. You're playing on my turf." Buffy seethed.
"Up there, maybe. But down here, I'm the one who's in control." The Colonel said.
Suddenly the lights went out and a man at a computer said, "Sir, the power grid's down. Backup's not responding. We're locked in."
They all watched as the containment doors were opened and all the demons realized they were free just as two humans walked through the corridor. Buffy moved closer to Angel and he put his arm around her shoulders as they saw the two people were slaughtered.
"Containment area's been breached. Hostiles are loose." The guy at the computer said.
"How many?" the Colonel asked.
"All of 'em, Sir."
"And it's Adam." Buffy said. She moved away from Angel. "Look, I'm the only one who can stop him now. Just let me handle this. Get your people out of here."
"All right, you men follow me. We gotta take the Armory now," the Colonel said.
"Sir." The guy said.
"Colonel." Angel said.
"These people are under arrest, do you understand?" The Colonel said as he and a bunch of the soldiers left.
"Yes sir." The one of the soldiers left in the room said.
One of them stood up and Buffy kicked him in the chest. Another soldier tried to attack her, but she banged his head into the desk, then hit him in the face, knocking him out cold.
"We've gotta find Adam." Buffy said.
"On it." Willow said, sitting at a computer monitor and getting to work.
Giles turned to talk to Buffy and Angel. "The enjoining spell is extremely touchy. It's, uh, volatile. We-We can't risk it being interrupted. We need a place that's close to you, Buffy, and quiet."
"Uh quiet?" Xander asked. They turned to look at one of the computer screens. The main part of the Initiative's huge lab was a war. Demons, vampires, soldiers, and scientists fought between races. It was a mad house with fires raging in parts of the place.
Buffy turned away and walked to Willow. "How we doing, Will?"
"Done. Hold on. According to this, there's air ducts and electrical conduits all running into there." Willow said.
"So?"
"So, there's no THERE there. Look."
"It's Adam."
"You sure?" Angel asked.
"Right behind 314." Buffy looked at Willow. "Can you unlock it?"
"I don't have to. All-All the locks in the Initiative have been disengaged.. except for the exits." Willow said.
"Demon open house." Xander muttered.
"Great. So we know we're going to 314. Now all we have to do is get there." Angel said.
"Weapons?" Angel asked.
As soon as each of them were armed with what they needed, Buffy and Angel burst through the door ahead of the gang into the 'demon open house.' Buffy punched a demon in its face. Angel kicked a demon in the leg, shattering the kneecap. Buffy gave a sidekick to another demon. Xander hit one demon with a laser blast. They all ran past. Another demon tried to hit Buffy, but Angel hit him first. She saw a soldier with a gun. Buffy pushed Willow.
"Willow down! Come on!" Buffy yelled.
"Go!" Willow said, pushing Giles and Xander.
Buffy and Angel followed the gang through the door and slammed it behind them. They were 314.
"Okay, it should be over here." Buffy said.
The rest of the gang started to barricade the door. Buffy opened the two doors that looked like a wall's corner and turned back to the gang.
"Once I'm in, barricade the door behind me. Is this place okay to be Magic Central?" Buffy asked.
"It, uh, should do." Giles said.
"As long as we don't get blowed up or nothin'." Willow said.
"What are the odds of that?" Xander asked.
"How long before the ritual kicks in?" Angel asked.
"Five minutes, give or take."
"Buffy, I still don't like you going in alone."
"I won't be." Buffy gave Angel a deep kiss and then walked through the doors.
Willow and Angel barricaded the doors and got to work. Giles and Xander had already started to set up the spell. As soon as things were in place, Willow began.