Corda had not continued cheerleading after that Halloween that brought her out of her and Cordelia's shared soul, but that did not mean that she and Alexander shunned school events. Which is why they were currently shivering by a bonfire on a cold night while helping the swim team celebrate a recent victory.

"Why did they think that celebrating on the beach at night in March was a good idea?" She asked. "Even southern California is cold right now."

"I don't know." Alexander said, wrapping his arm around her and sharing his body heat in addition to the fire. "It is difficult to feel like celebrating when you have to concentrate on staying warm."

"It's their choice, since it's their victory." Buffy said. "I don't think they stopped to consider the practical merits of their idea."

"Well, it's still good to have something to celebrate." Willow said. "None of our other teams have managed any victories."

The four suddenly heard a cry behind them and turned to see a couple of the swim team members hassling Johnathan Levinson. Buffy started to get up to do something about it when Alexander stopped her.

"Buffy, haven't you figured this out yet? Being saved by a small blond girl from anything other then imminent death is humiliating for a teenage male ego. Xander tried to explain that to you when you saved him from Larry, a situation he didn't actually need saving from. I'll deal with this and protect Johnathan's ego at the same time."

As Alexander moved to help Johnathan, Buffy pouted. "I just wanted to help."

"This is something you and Willow don't seem to grasp." Corda said. "When someone neither needs nor wants help, but you shove your idea of help down their throat, you're not helping them, you're satisfying your own ego. 95% of the time, Xander never needed either one of you to help him, but you'd insist on it anyway. Willow, especially, acts all hurt and offended at the suggestion that her idea of help is neither wanted nor needed. You never seemed to understand how hurt Xander was when you acted like that. You may want to actually help, but it's not up to you to decide help is needed nor is it up to you to decide your chosen method is better. Xander could take of himself. So can Alexander. Let him."

Now both of them were pouting.

Alexander walked up to the two bullies who were dunking Johnathan head first into a bucket of water. He struck before either of them realized he was there. He struck a nerve cluster on both of their backs, sending a flash of pain thru each of them. There'd be no evidence of his strike and no way to prove it had been him anyway. They let go of Johnathan and Alexander grabbed him.

"You okay, Jonno?" He asked, Johnathan having been another childhood friend of Xander's that he had unfortunately drifted apart from. Maybe it was time to reconnect. One could never have too many friends after all.

"Yeah, just really cold."

"Come sit by our bonfire, we'll get you warmed up." Out of sight, Alexander laid his hand against Johnathan's back. Johnathan had asthma and a dunking like that could cause problems. Alexander activated the healing touch and strengthened Johnathan's lungs. Spontaneous remission of asthma had been known to happen. Corda wrapped a towel around Johnathan and he gratefully sat down by the fire.

"Thanks guys, I appreciate it."

"No problem, we've got the space." Buffy told him.

Later, when the party was breaking up, another cry was heard. Johnathan had already left, deciding he needed more warmth then the bonfire could give him and had gone home. The four followed the sound of the cry and found something very disturbing. Human skin and muscle lying on the beach.

"Gods." Willow said. "Something must have eaten him."

Alexander had his scanner out and then he said. "No, something tore it's way out of him. The skin ripped open like the seam on a pair of pants. Whatever caused this changed him on the inside and he shed the skin and muscle because he no longer needed them. Who was he?"

"Dode McAlvry, he's on the swim team." Willow said.

"My scanner's showing a number of different marine species DNA, all jumbled together. This isn't something naturally occurring nor is it demonic. His DNA was altered. He became a whole new species. A massive hybrid."

"We've seen weird science before." Buffy said. "The Epps build a girl project for instance."

"We need to investigate the swim team." Corda said. "Someone may have done this to all of them and they could all mutate."

"Cameron Walker was trying to ask me out earlier." Buffy said. "I could get a date with him and spend some time with him and see if he knows anything."

"I wouldn't recommend it." Alexander said. "He's extremely aggressive towards women. You'd end up having to defend yourself. Snyder gives them preferential treatment. You could get into alot of trouble. Xander knew how to swim. I could join the swim team and get close enough to do some scans."

"Probably a better idea." Corda said. "It'll give you access to the swim team's area and it shouldn't take long for you to complete a scan. We could have answers very quickly."

They did, but not in time to save either the team or the coach or his accomplice, the school nurse. Alexander's scan showed the steam in the steam room had been the cause of the mutations. The swim team mutated. The coach killed the nurse and attempted to feed her to the mutated swimmers. The mutated swimmers killed the coach and escaped into the sea.

"I hope they don't turn out to be a problem. Those teeth mean they're definitely carnivores." Alexander noted. It was a hope they all shared.