A/N: Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. Cheers.
Angel and Cordelia's office, BPRI, 0830 hours.
Angel and Cordelia were looking down at the pictures on the small table in between the two couches. He and Cordelia were on one side, while Detective Lockley and her partner were on the other couch facing them. The female detective had noticed the look on Angel's face when he saw the picture that had the image of the message that was plastered on the side of the metal dump in blood.
"Angel?" asked the detective as she frown at the man, wondering if it was the same thing that got him upset at the Rearwood house, "what's going on?"
"This is the second time in two days someone has called me out by name" said Angel, "my real name. The only ones who know me as Liam is Buffy, Darla, and my sister. Not even Spike knows it, neither does Dru."
"Where's Buffy?" asked Detective Lockley.
"Buffy?" asked Detective Lockleys's partner, Detective Robert Gomez.
"She's one of the trainers for the BPRI" said the female detective as she looked at her partner.
"She's one of the good guys" said Cordelia as Detective Gomez looked at her, "and she's been in Colorado Springs the whole day yesterday. You can talk to the commander of the base where she's doing some consulting; they'll tell you that she's been there since yesterday afternoon."
"We never asked though" said Detective Gomez as he leaned forward, "where was she when the…."
"If you mean the Rearwood killings?" said Cordelia, "she was with me, her sister, and another friend at the Sunnydale Day Spa. They have our information… we had to register in so…."
"Just had to ask, Miss Chase" said Detective Gomez as he leaned back again and nodded at Detective Lockley.
"Angel" said Detective Lockley as she showed him a close up picture of a couple who were leaning against a wall, and another young woman on the roof who was lying down naked with a smile on her face, "they've all had their blood drained. We've got fang marks and… well, coupled with what happened at the Rearwood home.. this makes it eleven killings in one day. And we still don't know if this is one vampire doing the work, or two… or more."
"But its bad" said the ensouled Vampire nodding his head.
"And the brutality of how these three were killed" said Detective Gomez as he pointed to the mutilated bodies, "it's just… rage. Their blood wasn't drained just.. just spilt onto the ground."
"There's no camera footage of the vampires that did this?" asked Cordelia as Detective Lockley shook her head.
Detective Gomez looked at the female detective and still couldn't believe the words that were coming out of Cordelia's mouth. He still remembered the day he was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit of the Sunnydale Police Department; he thought that the Unit was set up to deal with the unusual number of gang related offences that plagued the small city from which he had only heard rumours… like much of the rest of the country, of the supernatural being attracted to the city. It was that rumour that encouraged people of all types to move to Sunnydale, leading to a slow expansion. However, soon after he joined the Unit, he learnt that the rumours he had heard about weren't rumours at all; all of them were true. This was his first month as Detective Lockleys's partner in the Unit which had only four detectives assigned to it, and was surprised when Detective Lockley and the other senior detectives told him the truth about Sunnydale.
He didn't believe what they were saying; at least until his first case that involved a vampire. After closing that particular case, Detective Lockley told him that she had the same feelings of shock that he was experiencing the first time she found out that vampires, and other nightmares, really did exist. It was soon after that she introduced him to Angel, telling Detective Gomez that he was one of two good vampires in the world.
However, they hadn't told him about Slayers, or the potential slayers.
Ever since that day, Detective Gomez has been working their cases with a mixture of fear and awe; but the latest massacres were the worst he's seen during his tenure as a detective.
"The owner said that the camera's were on the fritz and they were due to be replaced today" said Detective Gomez, "the weird thing is that all the lights in that alley were busted. And the camera above the back door facing the alley was disconnected."
"Basically we've got nothing then?" asked Cordelia.
"We're putting a call out to anyone who may have noticed something funny" said Detective Lockley, "it's gonna be in the morning news, and in the papers, urging patrons who seen these kids dancing, or talking, with anyone suspicious. It's a long shot but since we've got nothing to go on other that this is a vampire attack. We hoping that these kids took some pictures with their phones, or video… I'm sure that there's a lot of selfies so… we'll see."
"Finger prints?" asked Angel.
"We've some on the bodies" said Detective Lockley, "and we're checking up on that. We've sent the bloody clothes to the FBI lab in Los Angeles so hopefully they'll have something for us. The CSU guys found skin under the naked victim's fingernails, so hopefully we'll have something on file… but… if this is a vampire then he or she may not even be in the database."
"Angel" said Detective Gomez, "you gotta ask your contacts about this. This has vampire written all over it and… and we need to know if this is an outbreak."
"I'll have some of the senior Potentials start patrolling early" said Angel, "they'll have backup with the NID Special Teams; but in the meantime, I'd suggest more police presence in the streets. I'll have Garret mobilize some NID personnel in plain clothes, and they'll coordinate with your unit. But our best bet is at night… catching whoever's responsible, I mean."
The two detectives nodded their heads before they walked out of the office. It was just as they reached the door that Cordelia called out to them, and told them that they forgot the crime scene pictures.
"Those are copies for your files" said Detective Gomez as Angel nodded his head before the both of them left. Cordelia then looked at Angel who turned and looked at her, before they both looked at the pictures again.
"Someone who knows about what I did to my sister is taunting me" said Angel softly as he looked at the faces of the murdered innocents on the pictures, "Darla's dead, Kathy's… dead, the First is still my first suspect. The First takes the form of dead people, and their memories… it tortured me mentally once… almost got me to kill myself."
"I remember" said Cordelia.
"The First's got an agent in Sunnydale" said Angel, "that's the only thing that makes any sense whatsoever. The agent probably has a vampire for backup, and… well… maybe the agent used this vampire to kill the people and then leave the new message for me."
"There's one thing that doesn't make sense" said Cordelia as Angel looked at her, "the first time the First tried to kill you… it failed. Buffy saved you, told you that you were an idiot; and then basically you moved to L.A and did your thing. Why would the First act out again? I mean… it gains nothing. And Darla's dead… the only one who knew the truth about you as Liam, and that you killed Kathy, is already dead. So…"
"The First doesn't need a reason" said Angel as he looked at Cordelia, "I killed Kathy. I loved her more than anyone else, and I still killed her without hesitation."
"You were a vampire" said Cordelia, "you were a demon; you have a soul now.. and…"
"She was still my sister, Cordy" said Angel, pain evident on his face as he thought about what he did to his sister, "she's the first person I killed. Then after I got my soul back… thinking about what I did to her? That kills me.. even now."
"What do you wanna do?" asked Cordelia as she put her arms around Angel and looked at him.
"We'll recall Kennedy, and Buffy" said Angel, "Spike can take over for Kennedy, and I think Buffy's spending some time with Anya in Dr. Jackson's place while Tara's helping a little girl. They didn't tell me much but I'll talk to Buffy and at least get her back here. Whatever vampire this is, we need our Slayers. Rona, Satsu, Violet, and any other senior Potentials need to be paired with armed, NID personnel; I want them to patrol the graveyards, and any places that have heavy people traffic.. They'll start patrolling tonight like we promised Kate."
"I'll call Garret" said Cordelia, "get him to send some plain-clothes personnel over to Kate at the Police Department, they can work together on patrol until the evening."
"I'll go out too" said Angel as Cordelia frowned, "hey, I'm still fit.. you know."
"Believe me" smirked Cordelia, "I know. But whoever this is has a grudge against you. All these deaths and…"
"They'll pay" said Angel, "we haven't had a problem this big in Sunnydale since the BPRI was started, and we're not going to let it continue. The sun's come up so I'll have Callie and two NID agents head to Willie's Bar, that guy's got his nose in everything. He'll have a clue on where we could start looking."
New Kobol, 0930 hours.
Willow, Faith, and the rest of SG-1 had just gone off their turn in protecting the President's floor. The man had woken up, after which he met up with Roslin, Commander Adama, and Helo; and they had their breakfast with Woolsey, General O'Neill, Dr. Burke and Daniel. Willow and Faith were at another table talking with Colonel Carter, Teal'c, Colonel Mitchell and Vala drinking some coffee and having eggs. Willow and Faith were facing the President who had his Secret Service detail surrounding him while she had a telekinetic field that was placed around him and General O'Neill to protect them.
They were talking about the different topics that they had just learnt about from a quick briefing by the General on how the Cylons had destroyed an entire planet which led to what could be an Ancient dialling the DHD to Earth and then sending the only survivor through.
"That reminds me of Cassie" said Colonel Carter as she sipped her coffee while sitting on Willow's left side, while Faith was on the redhead's right, "to be…. I mean to see your family dead I… I can't imagine it."
"Tara Maclay has been extremely effective in the girl telling the SGC the incident" said Teal'c.
"That's Tara" said Faith as she took a forkful of eggs and then put t into her mouth, "she can break through anyone's shields. She had this power to make someone calm around her, to trust her… and it's not like she's using magic or anything…"
"They're able to just trust her" said Willow nodding her head, "that's why I suggested Buffy talk to her after I arrived in the SGC all those years ago. I met her only what… twice? Maybe? But I knew enough to tell Buffy that she was a real witch."
"But then again she was one of the… I mean… during the whole…" said Colonel Mitchell who suddenly stopped talking when he realized what he was going to say.
"The Slayer Council" said Willow nodding her head, "maybe that's the one time she used that trust thing for something wrong. Of course then there was that confusion spell, and the sleeping spell."
"She felt dirty doing what she did" said Faith as the two Colonel's and the others looked at her.
"She told me too" said Willow nodding her head as she took a sip from her coffee cup.
"What's this Council issue?" asked Vala confused as she looked at everyone who looked back at her, "ummmmm… what?"
"It's in the reports, which you were supposed to read" sighed Colonel Mitchell.
"You always read them to me" said Vala as she rested her elbow on the table top, and then her chin on the palm of her hand and pouted at Colonel Mitchell while Colonel Carter and Faith chuckled, "well?"
"So" said Colonel Mitchell as he tried to change the topic with Vala sticking her tongue out at him, "how about the whole weapons things for these guys? Anything?"
"We're supposed to hear from the recon Jumper soon" said Colonel Carter nodding her head, "but in the meantime, Willow had a good idea. We give the Colonials our version of the Goa'uld staff cannon, the same one we were working on until we found information on the Ancient energy weapons in the Death Valley outpost."
"I thought those were… what you people say… blue-balled?" asked Vala as everyone on the table coughed, except for Teal'c who looked at the others with confusing on his face, while Colonel Mitchell looked at the woman next to him with eyes wide open. Faith was the only one laughing while she patted Willow's back so that the redhead didn't choke on her food. Vala noticed the looks on everyone's faces and exclaimed, "what? I mean.. you kept it in storage, right? Under lock and key?"
"Moth balled" said Colonel Carter as she coughed and patted her own chest before recovering, "the word is moth-balled, not… that other thing."
"What you just said is something completely different, Vala" said Faith who was still chuckling, "please don't say that out loud."
"I do not understand, why would the colour blue have…" said Teal'c as Colonel Carter, Colonel Mitchell, and Willow asked him not to finish that sentence. However, some of the people in the tent… both Colonial and Earth, looked at SG-1's table as Faith couldn't help but laugh even harder before she fell off her chair and onto the floor.
"Sorry, sorry" said Faith as Willow helped her get up slowly while she raised her hands in apology, "heard a funny story, that's all. Good coffee, huh?"
Willow chuckled as Faith sat back down while the General looked at them and tried to hide his laughter before his table, and the others, went back to what they were doing.
"So" said Faith shaking her head as she rubbed her side of her upper arm, "yeah… moth-balled. And Big-guy, trust me you don't wanna know what that is in public."
"Very well" nodded Teal'c, "perhaps I will search the internet with Vala once we have returned to Earth."
"Ummm…. yeah" said Colonel Mitchell before he shook his head, "umm…. So, about the weapons?"
"Oh, right" said Colonel Carter as Willow put her head in her hand as she silently giggled, "ummm… yeah… well, the Goa'uld version is less powerful than the Ancient version we have on the 304's, and the 305's, not to mention it's less efficient. We used naquada as a power source during its testing phase, but if we could use Naquadria instead? Then it could be much more powerful than it is now; and maybe some tinkering here and there to make it slightly more efficient."
"However" said Teal'c as he looked at Colonel Carter, "it would not be similar in effectiveness as the Ancient weapons, Colonel Carter?"
"No" said Colonel Carter, "but then again, our ships have anywhere between fourteen and twenty energy weapon turrets; the Colonials could put double that on the Galactica if I remember the scans we have of the ship."
"It'll give them a chance" said Willow who had stopped giggling, "thirty to forty turrets, powered by Naquadria reactors is gonna be formidable; especially against other Goa'uld and Lucien Alliance ships. It will give them a small chance against the Ori ships and…"
"The staff weapons never worked against the Ori ships" said Vala as she looked at Willow, and then at Colonel Carter, "I was there at the Supergate battle when I was pregnant with Adria. The Ori shields took all the Goa'uld shots and… we all know what happened."
"That's why we're giving them Ancient shielding tech" said Willow as she leaned forward, "since we're not giving them Asgard shields, our only choice is the Ancient shield technology that's protecting the SGC; except this is gonna be done on a larger scale."
"We're talking about a lot of power" said the Colonel as she looked at everyone, "for a ship that size; I mean. Willow and I've spent the night doing calculations and it's going to be hard, but not impossible."
"But it all depends on whether their systems can handle the power load. Right, ma'am?" said Willow as she looked at Colonel Carter who was nodding her head.
"Ok then" said Colonel Mitchell, "well, I guess that's set."
"Now we need to wait for the Jumper to report back to us" said Faith while the others nodded their heads. It was thirty minutes later that SG-1 was standing next to the active Stargate as General O'Neill, and President Hayes prepared to leave New Kobol with the Secret Service detail behind them. President Hayes had already told Roslin, who was standing at the other side of the Stargate, that he'll be in contact with her through Woolsey; and hoped that one day they'll be able to talk again. The President then walked towards SG-1, thanking them for doing a good job. The man then approached Willow and extended an invitation to her to visit the White House after their mission to Nairobi; that there was something he'd like to talk to her and General O'Neill about.
"Of course, sir" said Willow nodded her head.
"Good" said the President as he perked up before he shook Faith's hand, who was still nervous as the day she first met the man. He then stepped back and nodded at General O'Neill who waved goodbye at SG-1 before walking through the Stargate to a buffer planet, along with Riley, Jon, and Hailey who were fully armed. They would dial Earth from the buffer planet before riley and the two other returned to New Kobol. Once they were through, the wormhole had disengaged as Dr. Burke approached the team. She told them that four Raptors were coming down to the surface of the planet so that they could take the team, along with some engineers, translators, and medical personnel who'd be working with the Cylon Scanning technology; as well as Helo, Baltar, Billy, the Vice-President and Commander Adama to the Galactica.
Willow and the others nodded their heads as Dr. Burke went back to talk to Commander Adama, the Vice President, Billy, Helo, and Roslin; all the while Baltar was listening in. While they were talking, Willow and the others headed back to the armoury where they geared up, along with one of the two British teams, as well as SG-13, while the others would remain on the surface. SG-1 and the others who were preparing to go to the Galactica then looked on as four Raptors landed on the field before them, after which the rear doors of the small ships opened.
Commander Adama, with Dr. Burke translating, told the Earth personnel that once they were on the Galactica, they would be escorted by his Marines and they were not to go to any secured area without permission from the Marines, his Executive Officer, or himself. He told them that they could scan the ship's crew and if any of them were found to be Cylon's then they would be given safe passage to the surface of the planet for additional testing; and if it was confirmed, the as it was agreed between the Earth Delegation… the Cylons would be sent either to Eden, or to another world.
"However" said Commander Adama as he looked at everyone, "in the event that any Cylons found constitute a security threat to the fleet, or to this planet, then we will make a determination on a case by case basis. Each Raptor will carry anywhere between five to ten people, so make your way inside… and then we will set off for the Galactica. Those of you who are planning to study our engineering schematics, please come with me… I will introduce you to our two deck chiefs. The others I assume will be scanning personnel for Cylon nanites?"
"Yes" said Sam as she nodded her head while she, and four people behind her were carrying metal cases, "it's better if everyone stays in their quarters, or in the bridge… basically where they're supposed to be."
The Commander nodded his head and told Sam, with Dr. Burke translating that he's relay that request to the Galactica on the way up to the vessel.
"Willow, Carson, Stewart, Hailey, Levi" said Colonel Carter as she looked at the redhead, and then at the others behind her and motioned them towards her, "you're coming with me. We'll take a look at the schematics, and then we'll split up and conduct some load tests."
"Make sure you've got everything with you" said Willow as she looked at the officers behind her, "naquada reactors, measuring equipment, and laptops."
"Everything's check, ma'am" said Lieutenant Levi while the others nodded their heads.
Colonel Carter then turned to Dr. Burke and asked her to tell the Commander that five people will be looking through the engineering schematics of the ship. She also told the linguist to relay to the commander that there'll be two translators going up with their team… as well whoever the Commander thought fit to accompany them.
"I would recommend that I go along" said Baltar as he raised his hand before he walked, and then stood next to Colonel Carter, "it would be beneficial to see how these people do their jobs… and to see whatever technology they have in use. It would help me in determining if the systems on the Galactica can be compatible with their technology."
"Suck up" coughed Faith as the other Earth officers chuckled after Dr. Burke translated what the Colonial scientist had said.
Colonel Carter just looked at a smiling Baltar, and then looked at Willow before rolling her eyes. She then turned to the Commander and nodded her head before telling him that she understood the need for security to be with them, and that they'll follow what he said... but that it would be her people who'll be testing the equipment.
"Once we're sure that the ship's systems can take the load from our power source" said Colonel Carter while Dr. Burke translated what she was saying into Ancient Greek, "then we'll train your people on how to work the systems."
"Understood" said the Commander as he nodded his head.
Willow, Colonel Carter, and their team who were carrying cases and backpacks in addition to their weapons boarded one of the Raptors. They followed Commander Adama who introduced the very awe-struck pilot who was sitting on the left side of the cockpit, as well as the ECO, Skulls, to Willow and the others. Willow gave the bald man a nod of the head, given that they had met earlier during the first meeting between the two delegations on the planet. It was then that Commander Adama looked at Willow, smiled and then motioned towards the seat on if the rear left of the larger cabin. Willow nodded her head, still able to feel that the Commander still believed that she looked so similar to the woman he had seen long ago. Willow then scooted to one side as she placed the case she was carrying, which contained the naquada reactor, on the floor while Colonel Carter sat next to her. Then the others, including Hailey walked into the ship, looked around for a little bit impressed before taking a seat. Colonel Carter's team had two translators, as well as the engineers who quickly sat down.
Commander Adama had already strapped himself to the co-pilot seat before looking over his left shoulder and telling everyone, while one of the translators translated, that they were going for lift-off.
"Commander" said Colonel Carter while another translator, Dr. Brigs, translated what she was saying, "with you permission we'd like to take a look at the schematics of this type of ship as well. At least once we've checked out the Galactica."
"That can be arranged" said the Commander as he nodded his head at the Colonel before he looked at the pilot and nodded his head. The rear door was just about to close as Baltar had just stepped into the ship. He looked around before he found a small space next to one of the translators, Dr. Winston, before taking a seat himself.
Just as he took his seat, Baltar combed back his hair with his hand and smiled at Colonel Carter, and Willow, while the Raptor started to take off.
Jumper One, Caprica, 0930 hours.
Captain Crystal Mathews and Lt. Brian Fowler have been flying around the planet and gathering as much data as they could on the goings on the surface of the planet, and in the two ships in orbit; one of which was the Pegasus. The Jumper was floating in low orbit over the planet while avoiding the patrols of vipers. They had seen the Stargate activate many times over the past twelve hours, and when they conducted fly-by operations over the large square where the Stargate was located, they found many teams of Ori soldiers, combined with Colonial military personnel and former resistance members going through the Stargate to various destinations.
Captain Mathews had taken pictures using the Jumper's sensors of what was going on before she would fly off and conduct a patrol. She took pictures of the military build-up in terms of personnel who were being sent through the Gate to other planets so that those inhabitants could be turned to the religion of Origin. The two of them had even watched Ori soldiers killing civilians who refused Origin. She and Lt. Fowler had been recording everything that they were watching, and hearing. They were even scanning the new ship, which unknown to them was named the Scorpion, from the surface.
"No change" said Lt. Fowler who was sitting back on his seat while having an MRE meal of eggs and ham, as well as some canned coffee while he was looking at scans from the newest ship that they had seen jump in over the planet nearly twelve hours ago, "their power levels haven't changed or…"
"It's only been twelve hours" said Captain Mathews who was drinking some coffee as they remained in the cloaked ship which was located in a forested area, "I wouldn't be surprised if those guys were still trying to check on the Ori technology, and how they can make it compatible with theirs."
"True" said the lieutenant when he suddenly leaned forward and pointed at something at the HUD, which was currently scanning the Scorpion, "the capacitors are charging, ma'am."
"Damn it" said the Captain as she gulped her coffee before she levitated the ship out of the forested area until she was above the tree cover. The young woman then accelerated out of the atmosphere just as they saw the Scorpion's energy weapon turrets move to the port side, and the twin barrels moved up forty five degrees before it fired four blue energy bolts into open space.
"You were saying, ma'am?" asked the Lieutenant as the Captain looked at the ship while it fired another volley into empty space. Then there was a beeping sound in the Jumper as another HUD came up that showed the power levels in the Scorpion dropping like a stone. The both of them saw the power levels crash before they looked out at the ship just as all the lights just turned off, and the ship hung in space as if it was lifeless.
"Running a scan" said the Captain as another HUD showed that people on the ship were running around, and that emergency power had just kicked in. The Captain and Lieutenant looked away from the HUD and saw some lights on the ship come on… however the vast majority of the vessel was dark while the brightly lit Pegasus was moving to the Scorpion's starboard.
"Looks like they have a lot of bugs to sort out huh, ma'am?" asked the Lieutenant.
"Yeah" said Captain Matthews, "but even trying it out… that shot released enough energy similar to a Goa'uld staff cannon on an Al'kesh."
'Are you sure, ma'am?" asked Lt. Fowler.
"Check out the readings" said Captain Matthews as she pointed at a string of data on the HUD as Lt. Fowler leaned forward and read the data, "there was once, years back actually.. the SGC was developing a plasma based weapon using a staff cannon as a base. The scientist who created it thought it was ready for a test but… well, when he tested it out with Major Carter and Colonel O'Neill? It blew up the entire SGC power grid."
"Did it fire at least?" asked Lt. Fowler as he looked at the young woman.
"Nope" said the Captain shaking her head before nodding at the HUD that was showing the Scorpion in red, which some parts that had emergency power in green, "but these guys actually managed to fire it… it caused them the same problems, but it still fired."
"But I'm not reading any naquada" said Lt. Fowler when he leaned forward and furrowed his eyebrows, "wait, I'm reading traces of Naquada… but it's mixed with whatever fuel they're using."
"Maybe that's what caused their systems to black out?" said Captain Matthews, "but what I'd like to know is why the sensors didn't read the naquada in the first place."
"Can't answer that, ma'am" said Lt. Fowler, "we only registered it once it fired. But…. yeah, I can't read it now. Maybe the concentrations are just too low?"
"Maybe" said the Captain as she came about and headed towards the surface. She knew that it was time to check in with the Avalon, so at she approached the Stargate silently… she hovered over the guards while dialling the Stargate.
"The Priors must be using their telekinesis to dial" said Lt. Fowler while the Captain pressed the button on the central console that had the symbol for Caprica's point of origin. They then chuckled as the Ori, and the Colonials, soldiers raised their weapons at the Stargate in anticipation that someone may be coming through the gate.
"Jumper One to Avalon" said Captain Mathews on an encrypted frequency, "Avalon do you copy?"
"Copy Jumper One" said Colonel Emerson who was sitting on his command chair, "get back home. The SGC and Homeworld needs your data, Home World and the IOA will decide on what to do from there."
"Understood, sir" said the Captain as she flew the ship towards the Gate while cloaked.
All the soldiers around them felt was a gush of wind, followed by a buzzing sound as the event horizon rippled before the wormhole disengaged. While the Jumper headed straight back into orbit towards the Avalon which was hanging in space over P7T-657, the Ori soldiers and the Colonial personnel just scratched their heads confused since no one had come through the wormhole. The Ori soldiers knew that without a DHD, there was no way to tell where wormhole had come from; so thinking that it was just an aberration… they let it go, and ordered the Colonial personnel to do the same as well.
Willie's Bar, Sunnydale, 0930 hours.
There was light music playing in the just opened bar while Kathy sat in one corner of the establishment while she faced the front door. She was wearing the same clothes that she had ordered the young woman from last night, the one she had ordered to climb the ladder to the roof, to take off her clothes and put them to one side. She sighed at the short shorts, and the low cut tank-top, that she was wearing while she recalled herself taking off her bloodied clothes and then throwing them onto the floor of the roof.
Kathy took a sip of the glass of blood that was mixed with a bit of rum as she thought about how she approached the young woman and put one arm around her waist, while she caressed her cheek with her other hand. The vampire smiled as tears fell from the young woman's eyes. Kathy then leaned forward and licked her tears before looking at the young woman again.
"I'm going to kill you now" said Kathy as the woman just looked at her transfixed, "how do you feel about that? The truth now."
"Sca… scared" said the woman, her bottom lip trembling, "I… I don't wanna die and…."
"What's your name?" asked Kathy as she looked into her eyes, and then onto the young woman's lips, and then to the girl's neck. All the while, the both of them could hear the pounding of the music coming from below them, they could feel the ceiling vibrate just ever so slightly."
"Tessa" said the girl as she remained transfixed, "I…."
"Shhh" said Kathy as she pressed her finger against the young woman's lips, "I've never sired anyone before. And if you aren't buried by the time I've had my revenge, then I may sire you. You see, the first one I sire will be the one my brother loves. She'll be just like me; unique. Maybe then I'll get to you. But for now, I want you to smile. And never lose that smile, even as you die; I want a smile on your face, that's how people will see you."
The young woman could feel her facial muscles moving on their own accord as she felt a smile forming on her face. She looked at Kathy as her eyes changed colour, and fangs extended… she wanted to scream. The girl remembered her family; her older brother who was in Iraq, her younger sister who was in Sunnydale high… she remembered her parents; her friends… and then thought about how stupid it was to fight with her boyfriend the previous night. This was supposed a wild night out for her; her friends were going to introduce her to some of the young men who frequented the Bronze so that she could have one night of passion. As she saw Kathy lean forward with the smile still plastered on her face; Tessa felt guilty for how she left it between herself and the man she cared about.
Kathy grabbed the back of Tessa's head and held on tight as she bit into the young woman's neck. The vampire felt Tessa grab her naked back as she dug in and left ten scratch marks. The scratches stinging her, Kathy latched onto Tessa's neck even harder; and soon… the young woman was dead.
Back in the present day, Kathy thought to herself, 'I laid her out like a trophy'.
Kathy saw the door to the back door open as several demons walked in, before closing the door behind them. The vampire suspected from the disgusting smell that was wafting into her nostrils that the demons, who had taken seat all over the bar, had come though the sewers. The young woman then drank a sip as she smiled at being able to wear the jacket around her bare shoulders and back. However, she knew that the light jacket she had taken from Tessa didn't have a hoodie to protect her head from direct sunlight.
The vampire was contemplating a change in her clothes when the front door opened and three people walked into the bar; a dark haired young woman, and two men who looked around while staying close to her. Kathy saw the woman walk over to Willie before she sat down on one of the stools at the bar, along with the two men.
"Willie" said the woman as she gave the older man a smile, "how you been?"
"Callie" said Willie as he leaned forward and looked at her, "I know why you're here and.. and I can tell you that I haven't heard anything. Now I need the three of you to leave, I have some of my morning regulars coming in for their… meal, and they really don't like having people from the BPRI sitting here. They especially don't like it when…."
"Three children are dead… and six others from last night" said one of the men as Kathy listened in from her table while keeping her head down and drinking her blood-rum, "children, man. We need to know, Willie.. who did this? You've got your hands in the beating pulse of the underworld."
"Literally" said the other man while Callie chuckled slightly, "but we need to take care of this right now."
"Willie" said Callie, "the arrangement between the Vampires and the BPRI stand. They get to run their blood dens where poor shmucks get bitten for a high, as long as the vampires don't kill. Send the vampires a message, we want the name of who did this… we know it's a vampire working with a human. More vampire's killing indiscriminately is… we'll come after them hard unless we get the names of the people involved."
"Look" whispered an exasperated Willie who leaned in close to Callie and the two agents after the bar owner looked behind him, since he expected his other 'guests' to come in at any moment, "I'll ask around… now please leave. You're ruining my business. And if you wanna talk, call me first."
"Thanks, Willie" said Callie with a sweet smile as she got off the stool, "you're a sweetheart."
"Yeah, yeah" said the older man shaking his head before he nodded at the front door, "move it ya scamp."
"See ya" said Callie as she waved at the man before she and the other agents walked out.
Kathy then sighed as she finished her blood, before getting up and approaching the bar. She nodded her head at Willie before nodding towards the door, and asking him who they were supposed to be.
"The girl's a Potential Slayer" said Willie while he cleaned the bar just as seven demons, and three vampires walked into the bar from the rear door. The man nodded at them, and then looked at Kathy again, "they're looking for a vampire, the one who did all those murders."
"Oh" said Kathy feigning surprise, "I just got into town an hour ago and…"
"You know" said Willie as he leaned forward, "I never asked what you are, demon? Vampire? Hell Beast?"
"I'm something" said Kathy as she put the emptied glass on the bar top, as well as some cash before she walked towards the front door as she tightened the light jacket around her body while Willie looked on confused. Kathy closed the door behind her and then stepped out into the sun light. She closed her eyes as she felt the sun's warmth caress her face and body while she gave a small smile. Kathy knew that she could spend a limited amount of time under the sun; that she could walk for sometime before her body started smoking. She had tried it once before; Kathy tried to find her limit, and stayed out in the sun for over an hour when her skin had started to redden before smoking. Screaming in pain, the young woman who was two months into her new un-life had rushed into an empty barn and waited for a few hours before she recovered enough.
Back in the present day, Kathy opened her eyes and looked at the three people who were standing around a car. She saw that one of the men had his hand on the driver's side door, while Callie had opened the passenger's side door and the other one was standing in front of the car talking to the both of them about running a sting operation of some kind.
"Excuse me?" asked Kathy in an American accent as she pretended to shiver, while she hunched her back over as she walked towards them, "I.. I couldn't help but overhear you just now… abou… abou… about the murders I mean."
Unknown to anyone, Kathy mentally disconnected the two cameras' that were outside the bar. So, while Willie was busy serving his new guests, he had no idea what was happening on the outside… in the parking lot.
"You have information? Miss?" asked one of the agents.
"No.. not here" said Kathy as she nervously looked around, "I.. I think the vampire's coming after me and… and I'm scared. He had a human helping him and… both of them were so… they slaughtered those people."
"You were a witness?" asked Callie as she approached Kathy while looking at her suspiciously, "the latest murders?"
"I just got in and I heard rumours about so many wishes.. so many people wishing for things at the bronze" said Kathy as she looked around nervously, and then back at Callie. Kathy didn't want to use her abilities, at least not yet… she wanted to see how far she could take it.
"You're a vengeance demon?" asked Callie as Kathy nodded her head.
"Please" said Kathy as she approached them, "just take me out of here and.. and I'll tell you everything. This vampire and his master have eyes everywhere and.. and I'm scared."
"Vengeance demons are supposed to be immortal" said one of the agents as he reached for a weapon behind his back while Kathy saw the Potential Slayer preparing to get into an attacking stance.
'A Potential Slayer' thought Kathy as she looked at Callie, 'I wonder how you taste. I heard rumours about the power in Slayer blood; rumours started by that failed poet, but a Potential Slayer.. ummm… I think you'd know who the Slayer is. I wanna have some fun first though.'
"This master" said Kathy as she looked at the three of them in terror, "his name is… I can't even mention it. I… please, help me. I ask you for sanctuary and… and I'll tell you everything once I'm safe. Please. I know you're going to ask why I can't just leave… and well, I kinda screwed up a few things before this and I was supposed to take in four wishes a day or I'll be suspended for a month. And well, yesterday I managed none because of my trauma. So please, help me? In return I can help you… please?"
"Fine" said Callie as she nodded her head before telling the agents that she was travelling in the back with her, "what's your name?"
"Kimberly."
"Get in the car, Kimberly" said Callie as the agents got into the drivers and passengers seats, and Callie sat in the back with Kathy. It wasn't too long before the passengers were inside, and the car was on the road.. heading towards the BPRI.
"Where are you taking me?" asked Kathy as she turned her head and looked at Callie while one of the agents had gotten on the radio in the car and let the BPRI know that they were coming in with a vengeance demon who had witnessed last night's murders. It was Wesley's voice that responded on the radio since he was taking over for Xander who had gone with Kennedy's team on the field.
"To see my boss" said Callie, "he's a vampire, a friendly vampire. I mean one of the good ones."
"I see" said Kathy nodding her head, "I overheard that you have a Slayer?"
"There's three, actually" said Callie, "one of them has retired and is with the Air Force… she's real cool. And the other two are here in Sunnydale. They can help you, but you need to help us as well."
"I understand" said Kathy as the vehicle continued to be driven. It wasn't too long that, while Kathy had been leaning back on the seat and looking outside the window, they were close to the BPRI. The entire trip had been quiet, with some small talk on either side before Callie told Kathy that they were almost at the place. Kathy looked at her and smiled before asking her if Angel loved all of his Potential Slayers, and Slayers.
"He cares about us" said Callie while the two agents looked at each other in confusion over the question Kathy had just asked, "he wants us to be safe."
"I see" said Kathy as she looked at the back of the seat that the agent in the passenger side was sitting. She then looked at the numerous camera's that were pointed at the street from the top of the walls and smiled to herself; it was time for her to make herself known. Kathy then looked at Callie again and asked, "do you think it's going hurt him if something happens to his own people so close to the BPRI?"
"Excuse… hey!" shouted Callie as she watched in shock while Kathy screamed and leaned forward, putting her arm around the neck of the agent in the passenger seat before used her other hand and twisted the man's neck. Callie almost immediately made a move as she punched Kathy's side, with teh Potential Slayer watching in shock as Kathy's eyes yellowed, and her fangs extended. Callie then looked to the shocked driver who stopped the car and told him to get out and get some weapons from the trunk. In the meantime, Callie leaned forward and punched the vampire who fell back onto the back seat laughing. Callie then leaned over her and continued to punch Kathy's face while hearing the trunk closing shut as the agent opened the door nearer to Kathy's head and pointed a cross at her while throwing a stake at Callie who caught it in mid-air.
Callie then raised up the stake right after catching it in one fluid motion before she stabbed Kathy in the heart. The Potential Slayer then stumbled back, as did the agent who was standing in the empty street just outside one of the walls that surrounded the BPRI. The both of them had their eyes widened in shock when Kathy didn't turn to dust… especially Callie who was sure that she stabbed her heart.
The Potential stumbled back onto the seat as Kathy laughed out loud while she pulled the stake out of her chest and got up, blood now pouring out of the hole where the Potential had stabbed her. The vampire then, just as Callie reached for the door handle to get out of the car so that she could get another weapon, turned her upper body and threw the stake through the agent's eye before she turned and kicked at the Potential who was just a split second away from opening the door. Instead, the young girl was slammed against the door before she cried out in pain as she fell onto the back seat again. Kathy kicked at her again, this time hard enough for the Potential to break open the car door and fall to the asphalt outside. Kathy then walked outside in the sun, and saw Callie; a very bloodied Callie trying to crawl away while she was sobbing. Kathy saw the Potential turn around while she was crawling as her eyes opened wide while watching Kathy not burning up in the sun. Callie then looked at Kathy's yellow eyes and extended fangs before the Potential lay on her back and brought her forearm up to her face.
"Sub… subdural transmitter" said Cassie as she struggled to speak, "I.. I press it and… and all hell… all hell breaks loose. We… we outside BPRI, they… they will come for me and… and they may not kill you if… surrender and…"
"Call them" smiled Kathy as she rushed to Callie and kicked the side of her head, with the latter screaming in pain. Kathy then smiled as she crouched down and grabbed the Potential's neck, holding her down, "call them."
Callie pressed the chip that all the Potential Slayers had in their forearms, just under their skins. A beacon that, when activated, sent an encrypted alarm to the Operations Room at the BPRI. It was Wesley who was in charge as he looked at the emergency beacon from Callie activated on the screen. He then ordered Potentials and NID agents to the area that was only a block away from the BPRI building so that Callie could have back-up.
"Get me that GPS location!" shouted Wesley to one of the operators after he gave the order so that he could send in help for Callie whose picture and details, including her heart beat were on the large screen, "and someone get me Angel and Cordelia! Move it!"
While the operations room was in a rush, one of the operation analysts pulled up the GPS coordinates from Callie's chip and put it up on the large screen in front of them.
"All units" said one of the analysts as he spoke onto the phone to the teams heading out, "Agent Callie Reardon is at the South West section of the wall, move it."
"Get me a visual! Get me a camera! Something.. now!" said Wesley as he shouted at the others while Callie's heartbeat was jumping higher and higher.
It was a few seconds later that the screen showed a video from the security camera on the wall. The people in the operations room looked on in shock as a blonde haired female, whose back was to them, was walking towards Callie who was badly bleeding and bruised.
"One minute, sir" said the analyst as he got off the phone, "One… one minute…"
"She doesn't have a minute!" shouted Wesley.
"They… they coming" said Callie as she struggled to speak while she looked up at the smiling Kathy who leaned down and broke the Potential's arms before she licked the blood off the side of her mouth.
"Yes" said Kathy licking her lips, "your blood is so sweet. Ummm…. it's like... wow. What's a Slayers blood like?"
"Sh… shut up.. go… go to… hell" said Callie as she started to shiver. She looked behind Kathy at the camera that was looking straight at her, and then back at Kathy.
"What are the names of the Slayers in Sunnydale?" asked Kathy as she smiled at Callie whose eyes glassed over.
"Bu.. Buffy Summers, and… and Kennedy Williams" said Callie in a monotonous voice.
"Thank you" said Kathy as she bared her fangs and then bit into the stunned Callie. Kathy drank the warm blood from the Potential, and she could feel a hint of power in the blood… a hint of power that was reinforcing her own vampire healing abilities in closing the wound in her chest. Once she was done, the vampire twisted the young potential's head.
Meanwhile, the operations room at the BPRI was completely silent as they looked at the horrific events that had just taken place. Wesley's hands were rolled into fists. They all watched at the screen as Angel and Cordelia rushed into the room and asked what was going one. Wesley could only look at the screen transfixed, as did the others, including Angel and Cordelia of the sight of the dead Potential Slayer and the two agents. They watched as the girl stood up, her back to them and turn her head just slightly; without showing her face. However, they could only take note of what could be a smile before she ran off to the left.
"I want to know where she's going" ordered Angel as he put pointed at one of the analysts.
"Angel" said Wesley as the screen in front of them had two views; one of the girl running away fast while the other analysts were informing the teams being sent out of which way she was going until she was out of their range. However the teams going after her were told about the general direction she was heading, while another screen showed a team that just arrived at the scene of the carnage. They saw Agent Garret take of his cap as he crouched down to close Callie's eyelids after which he looked back at the camera.
"I want description of that woman sent to all our teams out there" said Cordelia as she looked at everyone.
"Callie said that she had someone who knew about the murders" said Wesley as he shook his head, "I… I told her to bring her over here… she was a vengeance demon and… oh God."
"It's not your fault" said Angel as he looked at the screens while the analysts were calling the Potentials and NID personnel who were out in the field, "but I sent Callie to Willie's to ask questions. We'll find ou answers there."
"I'll head there and…" said Wesley before Xander interrupted him.
"I'm coming with you" said Angel, "I'm directly responsible for the deaths of Callie and those Agents. I'll go too… its time we find whoever this is. And I know that Willie has camera's in his place."
"Let's go" said Wesley as Cordelia nodded her head before looking at the screen again.
'I wish I could see your face, Liam' thought Kathy to herself as ran as fast as she could while giggling to herself. She could hear the sounds of cars behind her a few turns away before she passed an ATM where she immediately turned left and walked calmly into another building; shutting the door behind her just as three vehicles drove by. Smiling to herself, Kathy took an elevator to the top floor, and from there she climbed up to the roof and saw what was going on, 'one of the people you care about is dead. What will you do? Now I know the names of the Slayers. It won't take me too long to find out where they live… I wonder… what would it be like to fight a Slayer? I've already taken down a hunter… the one whose family you murdered. But a Slayer? Umm… tonight.. perhaps, Liam. Tonight.'
TBC.