Chapter 27.

THE HAVEN, SAN FRANCISCO

(11:35 P.M./PST)

MICK ST. JOHN'S P.O.V.

Prince Julian gestured for everyone else present to sit down. He then did so, himself, steepling his fingers together before looking straight at Boone, and uttering those three little words:

"Talk to me."

I have to give him credit. Boone stared right back at him, just as unblinkingly.

"What do you want to know?"

"Why risk reprisals to yourself and your employers by invading my nightclub? Are you being paid that much by Wolfram and Hart?"

"It's not so much the money, Your Highness, as the challenge. And, the unanswered question between us. Me and Angel, I mean. "

"What unanswered question?" demanded Buffy (who still had that modified M-16 cradled in her arms).

"Whether he could still take me in a fair fight, even at my full capacity," replied Angel.

"What?" she exclaimed: "Of all the stupid, macho...!"

"I don't think is the right time or place for a feminist diatribe on the alleged evils of testosterone," Detective Kohanek bluntly interrupted.

Prince Julian agreed with him, albeit more politely and apologetically.

"Fine," she acquiesced, before turning to Angel and adding: "But, you better believe I am gonna yell at you, _twice as loud_, when we get back to the hotel!"

"Of that, I have no doubt," the poor guy muttered.

I quickly got us back on track, though, when I asked Boone what he did know about Wolfram and Hart's reasons for hiring him to capture Angel.

"Are they just trying to kiss Brujah-butt? Or, is there more to it than that?"

Boone smirked: "Door Number Two, I'd say. Whatever they want Angel for, it's definitely not related to the Final Death ordered for him by Cyrus. In fact, I'd say that the Prince of L.A. would be mighty _pissed_ if he found out his favorite law firm was working at cross-purposes to him."

"Speaking of which," I said: "Has anyone determined how that Japanese Assamite found out about the time Sonny was supposed to rendezvous with us at the House of Lavender Flame?"

Prince Julian shook his head: "The only ones who knew about it were myself, the rest of the Conclave, Sonny and..."

His eyes bulged like an anime character's as I nodded, in completion of his thought.

"...Lee Pow IV."

RUPERT GILES' APARTMENT,

SUNNYDALE, CALIFORNIA

(11:45 P.M./PST)

"Presidential Suite," said the youthful voice at the other end of the phone line: "Vice-President Harris speaking."

"Xander? It's me."

"Hey, G-Man! Nice to hear from you. How are things at home?"

"Not good. In fact, I've just received some dire news. And, I need to apprise Buffy of it, immediately!"

"Sorry, G-Man. She's still at the local cop-shop, with Cordelia. Is it something I can relay to her when she gets back?"

"I'm afraid you'll have to. So, listen very carefully."

Twenty minutes later, Giles was asking if Xander had memorized everything correctly. The latter's reply was unusual, but understandable.

"Holy Crap Molasses!"

"Indeed," agreed Giles.

Cordelia yawned as she awoke. Then, she put her left hand to her forehead, feeling more hung over than that time she had ordered a Long Island "ice tea" at the Bronze. Not knowing there was no genuine tea in it!

"Buffy?" she softly called out: "Detective Blalock?"

"I'm afraid there's no one here by either of those names," replied a male voice to her right.

She gasped as she finally spotted the slightly older man. He wore a blue outfit, carried a clipboard in both hands, and had a stethoscope draped around his neck.

"Who are you?" she demanded: "Where am I? And, what am I doing here?"

"Whoa-whoa-whoa!" he exclaimed, coming over to calm her down: "It's alright. You're in the sickbay of the S.S. Vlodnik. And, I'm the ship's doctor. Dr. Wilkinson, to be exact! But, you can call me 'Ben.' "

tbc