Author's Note: To those asking for two or more chapters a day. Sorry it's not happening. I no longer do that except in the rarest of circumstances. I used to do that all the time. I rapidly got burned out trying to write two or more chapters a day, especially when I'm sometimes working on more then one story at once.
Chapter 99: Goodbye Iowa
"...so Maggie sends me down into the sewers with one of those blasto guns. Next thing I know, it's raining monsters." Buffy says.
"Hallelujah." Xander says. "What? She was asking for it."
"And this gate slams down behind me... and I try to use the gun, but it goes, pffft!"
"You're saying Maggie set you up?" Giles asks.
Buffy nods, "That's what I'm saying. She sent me on a one-way recon."
"Got to hand it to you, Goldilocks, you have bleedin' tragic taste in men. I have a cousin, married a regurgitating Frovlax demon, has better instincts than you." Spike says.
"What does my taste in men have to do with this?" Buffy asks.
"You think Riley was off knitting booties for your future offspring while Maggie was stringing you up?" Spike asks.
The others look on guiltily. They'd had the same thought. But this stops Buffy. She hadn't considered it.
"Riley? You think that he had something to do with this?" Buffy asks.
"Probably not. But we'd be remiss if we didn't think through all the possibilities." Piper says.
"Right... Remiss." Buffy says. "I - no... I mean, no. Maggie made sure he was nowhere around when she handed out the very special "make Buffy dead" assignment."
"Plus, Riley - he seems like he wouldn't tell a white lie, let alone a whole lot of big, fat dirty ones." Willow says.
"That's why they call them "secret" forces, Will. 'Cause they kind of keep the whole lying thing to themselves." Xander says.
"All I know is that Maggie has it in for me. And that means The Initiative has it in for me." Buffy says.
"Scary, on so many levels." Willow says.
"Right. I'm guessing the mad scientist isn't too keen on the fact that the entire Scooby Gang knows The Initiative is up to no good." Xander says.
"Getting us back to the "not safe for any of us" concept." Buffy says.
Giles shakes his head, "I still don't understand, Buffy. What happened that would make Maggie want to kill you?"
"I don't know. She didn't dig the fact that I was asking a lot of questions, that's for sure." Buffy says.
"So - you were getting too close to something." Phoebe says.
"Clearly. I can only imagine what she was so desperate to hide." Paige says.
Buffy starts gathering weapons from Giles' cabinet. "Everybody grab a weapon. We've got to move."
"And storm the Initiative? Yeah... Let's take on those suckers!" Xander says.
"I was more thinking that we'd hide." Buffy says.
Xander relaxes a bit, "Oh thank god."
Piper shakes her head, "Buffy I don't think hiding is the answer."
"We need to relocate to someplace we're less likely to be found. Come up with a plan." Buffy says.
"We could go to my house." Willow says.
Buffy shakes her head, "The Initiative guys know how close we are. They'll automatically check the places you hang out. " She looks at Piper. "Probably ought to call the club and let the managers know."
Piper shakes her head, "Buffy at least Phoebe, Paige and I can't just disappear. Leo and Cole would worry. Plus Phoebe and Paige could lose their jobs if they don't show up. I think it would be better if the three of us go home and pretend we don't know where the rest of you all are at."
"Piper." Buffy says.
"Were the Charmed Ones remember, Buffy. We can protect ourselves from these guys. Paige and Leo can orbs us out and I can freeze anyone who makes a threatening move against us." Piper says.
Buffy nods, "Okay." She turns to Xander. "Xander - what about your basement? The guys haven't seen us together much. And your basement's big enough –"
"Plus - mirror ball." Willow says.
"Cool. Come on down and boogie at Xander's hide-away." Xander says.
"Yes. Come boogie." Anya says.
"Absolutely not. I will not squat in that dank little hole." Giles says.
Spike frowns, "What? It was good enough for me, but you're above it all?"
"Precisely. Besides, I don't see why we can't stay right where we are. I doubt very much that those Initiative boys are going to come around here looking for –"
As if in answer, Riley enters. "Buffy."
Buffy sees him and they move together, extremely relieved and glad to see each other. Any doubts or questions they have are clearly overshadowed by their need for each other. "God, Buffy. Are you okay? What happened?:
"You know?" Buffy asks.
Riley nods, "I know something went down. Tell me."
"Maggie - she tried to kill me." Buffy says.
Riley tries to process this. It's difficult.
"It didn't work, but they're all upset anyway." Anya says.
"Okay. Listen. I need you to go over everything. Step by step. There must be some kind of mistake –" Riley says.
"There's no mistake. And how do you know something happened? Where were you?" Xander says.
Riley's spinning, trying to piece it all together. "I was on a mission, but I came back and... I - I'm not sure. Let's just, keep our heads. Not jump to any –"
"What?" Buffy asks as she follows his gaze. Sees that he's looking at Spike, who has also tensed.
"That's Hostile 17." Riley says.
"No, I'm just a friend of Xander's..." Spike says. "Bugger it. I'm your guy."
Riley pushes back from Buffy. Even more confused.
"That's - his name is Spike. It's a... really long story. But he's not bad anymore." Buffy says.
"Hey! What am I? A bleedin' broken record? I'm bad." Spike says. "It's just, I can't bite anymore, thanks to you wankers."
"We've been looking all over the place and you've known where he was all along?" Riley asks.
"It's not like that." Buffy says.
"Then what is it like? What's he doing here?" Riley asks.
"Leaving you swabs to your dramatics, thanks. Got my stories on the telly for that." Spike says. "By the by, if you are trying to kill her –" He gives Riley two thumbs up, before he bails.
"Buffy - what is this? You're hiding an HST?" Riley says.
Xander, fuming now, stands - gets in Riley's face a little. "Maybe you should back off and let her ask the questions, Jack. Your boss just tried to make monster food out of her."
Riley stops, realizes that everyone, save Buffy, is looking at him a little accusingly. "I didn't see much. I wasn't there... All I know is, Professor Walsh told me you were dead. But then I saw you on the monitors... This isn't Professor Walsh. There must be something making her act this way. Something, I don't know, controlling her..."
Piper shakes her head, "We think Buffy was becoming too inquisitive. That she may have been getting close to something Professor Walsh was trying to hide. Any idea what that might be?"
"What about 314? Maybe that's it –" Buffy says.
"Maybe she was trying to test you? What if it was only a drill –" Riley says.
"Then why did she tell you I was dead? Riley - this was no test –" Buffy says.
Giles nods, "I've heard rumors. That The Initiative isn't what we've been told. That, secretly, they are working toward some darker purpose... Something that might harm us all –"
"No. That's - that's not what happens there." Riley says.
"Riley –" Buffy says as she reaches for him, but he pulls back - reeling.
"You have no right... I mean, I think I would know if..." Riley says.
Buffy sighs, "Nobody's sure of anything yet. We're just trying to sort it out –"
Riley starts to head for the door. "I - I can't be here. I'll sort it out on my own."
"Riley –" Buffy says.
Riley shakes his head, "No. Just - I'm sorry."
"Riley." Piper says. "When you have things figured out. Call me at the Manor."
Riley simply nods and heads out the door.
The next day in Xander's basement; Buffy, Anya and Willow are watching cartoons. Buffy, worried and distracted, is clearly not enjoying the animated diversion.
On the TV the Roadrunner drops an anvil on the Coyote from about 10,000 feet. Coyote turns into an accordion guy, walks away.
"That would never happen." Buffy says.
"Well, no, Buff. That's why they call them cartoons and not documentaries..." Willow says.
Giles' head pops up from the other side of the blanket. "Must we have the noise? My head is splitting."
Willow sighs - turns the TV off. "Look who's a cranky bear in the morning."
"Yes. Can't imagine why I didn't sleep well in my beachball." Giles says.
"Every time you moved you made squeaky noises. It was irritating." Anya says.
"Really? I'm surprised you could hear it over your Wagnerian snoring." Giles says.
Buffy, upset by the arguing, interrupts. "Could we - not? Everything's screwed up enough without you two doing scenes from my parents' marriage."
Anya and Giles quiet, somewhat chastised.
"Sorry." Anya says.
"Thank you." Buffy says.
"It'll be okay. Riley's just confused, that's all." Willow says.
"I don't know. Seems like things could get heavier. I mean, his world's falling apart." Buffy says.
"And after you went through all that stuff with Angel..." Anya says. "You should get a boring boyfriend, like Xander. But you can't have Xander."
"That was the idea. Riley was supposed to be Mr. Joe Guy. We were supposed to do dumb stuff - like hold hands through the daisies going, "tra, la, la..."" Buffy says.
"Poor Buffy. Your life resists all things average." Willow says.
"So dump him. But you can't have Xander." Anya says.
Buffy sighs, "I'll try to remember that. Anyway, it's too late. I'm already at the "I hurt when he hurts, I smile when he smiles" stage."
"I hate that part." Anya says.
A look of determination crosses Buffy's features. "So - I just have to make it work."
"I bet you will." Willow says.
"No. No bet. I will make it work." Buffy says.
Xander comes down the stairs with a tray full of breakfast-y items. "Turn on the TV. Now."
Willow turns it back on. Xander puts the tray down.
On the TV a news reporter stands at a crime scene. "... San Francisco is still reeling from news of the crime. A source in the Coroner's Office tells us that the boy was stabbed by what looks like some kind of large skewer, and his body was then mutilated. Police have not named a suspect, and the killer is still at large..."
Xander turns the television off again. The mood in the room is grim.
"The Polgara demon had a skewer in his arm. That was the one Maggie specifically wanted us to bring back alive." Buffy says.
"She must have sent it after you." Giles says.
"But it got distracted. Oh, God . . ." Buffy says.
"Buffy. It's not your fault. How could you know?" Willow says.
Giles nods, "She's right. You mustn't blame yourself."
Buffy climbs off the bed, in battle mode. "I'm not going to. I'm going to the crime scene and see what I can find out. You guys research the Polgara demon - I want to know where it is. And when I find it - I'm going to make him pay for taking that kid's life. I'll make him die in ways he can't even imagine. Someone call Piper and give her a heads up. Tell her I might need her help." She looks down at her pajamas. "That... probably would have sounded more commanding if I wasn't wearing my Yummy Sushi pajamas."
Later Buffy stands at the scene where the boy was killed. Two medical examiners roll a stretcher with a small covered body past her. Buffy watches, pained. She walks the circumference of the crime scene and bends to look at some footprints when she spots Riley arriving. Glad to see him, wanting to make things right, she moves to him.
"Hey." Buffy says.
"Hey." Riley says.
Buffy sighs, "Look - I'm sorry about earlier. I know everyone came on pretty strong, and the Spike thing – it isn't as totally tweaked as it looks. Okay - maybe it is - but there's an explanation that almost makes sense..." Riley's face is hard. Cold. He's barely looking at her. "Hello? I'm apologizing here. And I think that's pretty big of me considering I'm the one who almost got made a demon sandwich. This is the part where you throw me a bone."
"Maggie's dead." Riley says as Buffy takes this in, stunned by the news. "You happy now?"
Buffy's appalled by Riley's coldness. "Happy? How can you say that? Of course I'm not. What happened? Who killed her?"
"That's classified." Riley says.
"Classified? Riley –" Buffy says, holding it together. "The Polgara. It got her - then it escaped. Didn't it?" Riley finally nods. Buffy can't contain her hurt at his behavior. "I'm going to find it. I'll find it and destroy it. Then you'll stop asking how "happy" all this death makes me." She turns and walks away.
Later Buffy enters Willy's bar, finds Willy behind the bar. He's understandably less than happy to see her. He gestures for her to move with him to a dark end of the bar - away from the customers. He glances around nervously.
"Aw man. You're killing me here." Willy says.
"I missed you too. Joint's jumping." Buffy says.
"Yeah, you know... I'm making some changes with my life. Getting away from my old image." Willy says.
"What, you mean, as a double dealing snitch?" Buffy asks.
"Uh huh. I know you're gonna think I'm blowing smoke - but after those apocalypse demons nearly did me in, I had an experience of the spiritual variety –"
Buffy doesn't have any time for this nonsense. "That's swell, really, but I still need to know if you've heard anything about a Polgara demon doing some killing over the last few days."
"See - that's the thing. I don't talk behind people's backs no more." Willy says. "And I'm trying to give the joint some class. It's Willy's "place" now, see? Brings in a better clientele." Buffy glances around the room a little dubiously. "And I got a deep fryer. These demons just go crazy for chicken fingers. If they see me dealing with you - then I'm just the same old Willy, working both sides of the street."
Buffy's just about had it. "I'm going to have to punch you, aren't I?"
"Just once, and it don't have to hurt - just make it look good." Willy says.
Buffy hauls back, but before she hits him - Willy yells with pain. "Not yet. I didn't touch you –"
"Okay, sorry, sorry. Go again." Willy says. "No! I can't talk to –"
Buffy hits him in the face. He cries out for real this time. Takes a long beat while he recovers. Buffy's all business. "The Polgara. What do you know?"
"Heard there was one around a week or two back. Word was you got him, you and those army guys." Willy says.
"And that was the last you heard." Buffy says.
Willy nods, "Yeah. Far as I know he's been off the streets."
Buffy takes this in. "What about those "army" guys? What's the talk about them? Anybody mentioned something called 314?"
"I've heard stuff. Mostly stories, you know." Willy says as he looks past her.
Buffy follows his gaze and, much to her surprise, sees that Riley has stepped into the bar. Again, his expression is dark, intense. Buffy, angry that he followed her, moves to him and speaks before he has a chance. "What are you doing? Following me?"
"You told me you were tracking the Polgara demon. I was going to help you." Riley says. "But now I see you're not hunting demons - you're socializing with them. Again. I thought you were supposed to be killing these guys, not buying them drinks."
"Smooth, Officer Riley. They teach you those undercover moves in special forces?" Buffy says.
"I'm serious, Buffy. What are you doing here?" Riley says.
Willy pipes up nervously, trying to help. "Just cooling her dogs like the rest of us. Now why don't you relax –"
"I want you to tell me. Who are you, really?" Riley says.
"No kidding, let me get you some chicken fingers on the house –" Willy says.
"Hey. Think you could shut up?" Riley asks.
"I'm just saying –" Willy says.
Riley shakes his head, "I said shut up. Or maybe you'd like to go back to the lab with me. I'm sure the coats would love to classify a - whatever you are."
"Leave him. He's human –" Buffy says.
"So - he's human. He just harbors demons.. Which makes him a good guy like you?" Riley says. "The truth, Buffy. Now."
Buffy also hardens. She doesn't put up with this crap. Not from anybody. "You have the truth. You're just too screwed up to see it now because of what happened to Professor Walsh. Now let me go –"
But she can see that Riley isn't listening. His focus has shifted to a lady who is trying to sneak out of the bar. This seems to be the straw for Riley. He loses it.
"Hold it - you!" Riley says as he casts Buffy off, grabs the lady. It's clear just from looking at her that she's a drunk, but no demon. "No leaving till I say so, got it?"
Riley holds the pistol to the poor lady's head. A tense moment - everybody's frozen and terrified.
Willy again tries to intercede. "Hey! We got new rules in here, no killing –"
Riley keeps the pistol to the lady's head. "Right. Except - it seems like the rules don't apply much these days, do they? Like, if I shot you right now, I don't know if I'd have a corpse on my hands or one pissed off vampire –"
"Riley –" Buffy says.
"I mean, who do you believe? First it sounds like lies. Then it sounds like truth..." Riley says.
Now the lady squeezes her eyes shut, mutters a prayer... This seems to wake something inside Riley, some kind of reason - he looks over to Buffy and sees her horrified expression.
"Riley, no." Buffy says.
Anguished, Riley turns back to the terrified lady, raises the gun up - as if going to pistol whip her - then slams it down hard on a bowl of nuts resting on the bar. The bowl explodes from the impact sending Willy cowering. The lady yelps and staggers away.
Riley looks at his hands - they're shaking terribly. He turns to Buffy - a look of desperation crossing his features. "What's happening to me?"
In Xander's basement, Riley is sitting on Xander's bed, head in hands. He's sweating and dizzy, shaking like a leaf.
Buffy moves to him, gently puts a blanket around his shoulders. He startles at her touch, but then seems to realize that it's her and calms a bit. "Why don't you lie down? You'll be more comfortable."
Riley pulls the blanket around him, but remains sitting. Buffy notices that Riley is scratching at his hand rather vigorously. She looks at his hand, gasps. He's scratched it until it's raw and bloody. "Riley. Stop –"
"I - I can't. It's like... something's crawling inside..." Riley says.
"No. You're hurting yourself. Come on –" Buffy says as she removes the scarf she wears on her head, and wraps Riley's hand in it. Looks at him tenderly. "Stop, okay?"
Riley nods, responding to her gentle touch. But then his look shifts to one of desperation. "I thought I knew. But I don't... I don't know anything."
"Shhhh. You're sick. Once you get some rest –" Buffy says.
"No. I don't know anything. I don't know which team I'm on. Who the bad guys are..." Riley says.
"Riley –"
"Maybe I'm the bad guy." Riley says. "Maybe I'm the thing you should kill."
Buffy takes Riley's hands - looks him firmly in the eye. "No. Don't even think that. Now listen to me. You just need to get some sleep. Come on, lie down."
After a long beat, Riley lies back. Buffy covers him with the blanket, which seems to have little impact on his violent shaking.
Buffy sits with him for a beat. "You're going to be okay..."
Riley doesn't respond to this, just closes his eyes. Buffy looks at him for a moment, worried. Then she gets up and crosses to the other side of the room, where Xander, Anya and Giles are researching.
"How is he?" Giles asks.
Buffy has switched into high slayer-mode now. She's ready to kick a little butt to help her boyfriend. "This isn't just grief making him act this way. Something's affecting him physically - and it's getting worse."
"You think Professor Walsh did something to him?" Anya asks.
"I don't know. But I'm ready to find out." Buffy says.
"That's going to be tough, what with Maggie's deadness and all." Xander says.
"She must have kept records somewhere. About Riley and 314 and all of it. And I doubt she was the only person at the Initiative who knew what she was up to." Buffy says.
"So what's the plan?" Xander asks.
"Giles and Anya will keep researching. Piper, Xander and I will go in undercover." Buffy says.
"Hey, remember before? No Xander. Not in a boyfriend-way or a lead-him-to-certain-death-way." Anya says.
"He's the only one with military experience." Buffy says.
"It's not like he was in "the Nam." He was G.I. Joe for one night." Anya says.
Xander sees her alarm, moves closer. Moved by her concern. "It's okay, Anya. I've backed Buffy up before."
"Can't you find another way to help these guys, like Xerox the handouts or something?" Anya asks.
"I'll be careful, promise." Xander says as he hugs Anya.
Buffy and Xander start gathering weapons, military gear, etc.
"How do you plan on getting inside The Initiative, Buffy? Surely their security system is almost impenetrable. And I doubt you wish to risk exposure flaming in there." Giles says.
"I have my clearance. I'm hoping Maggie never had time to revoke it." Buffy says. "And if she did I'll risk exposure."
"As for the whereabouts of the Polgara demon, Buffy, I'm afraid we haven't turned up much. There's been no report of him since his capture." Giles says.
"Then we'll just have to keep looking." Buffy says.
Later Buffy and Piper are dressed like scientists; lab coat, glasses and all.
Xander is in commando gear, covers them as they move cautiously through Lowell house. The place looks pretty empty.
"Things seem quiet." Xander says.
Buffy nods, "Usually are this time of –"
Guy runs down the stairs and they duck behind them. They go mercifully unnoticed as the guy barrels out the door.
Cautiously, they venture out again. This time they make it all the way to the mirrored entrance to the Initiative elevator. Buffy stops near the mirror.
Xander, a little confused, does the same. "Buff, maybe you should check the look later."
"Buffy wouldn't it have been easier to just flame us into the elevator?" Piper asks.
"We don't what security precautions they have, Piper. They may have it if you bypass one you can't get past the other." Buffy says. "Shhh. Just –" She stops as something occurs to her. She violently shoves Xander far away from the mirror.
"Ow! What was that for?" Xander asks.
"Sorry. It's just - I'm the only one who can pass the retinal scan." Buffy says.
"The - eeeew! I don't want to see that!" Xander says.
Buffy stands in the center of the mirror. Faces it.
"Retinal scan, Xander." Piper says. "It's checking her eyes to make sure she's her."
Buffy nods, "In a few seconds we'll find out if my clearance is still good."
The scan starts.
Xander watches nervously. "Or if we're about to die at the hands of fifty grief-fueled military goons..."
The elevator opens. Buffy breathes a sigh of relief.
Xander still looks a little uncertain. "Why am I not entirely comforted by the arrival of the man-sized microwave?" Xander asks.
Piper and Buffy ignores him and steps inside. Xander follows. The elevator doors close.
"Piper if anyone gets too close and starts to recognize me. You're going to have to freeze them." Buffy says.
Piper frowns, "Exposure?"
"We may have to risk it." Buffy says. "Riley's life is at stake here. Besides we need information on this 314."
The elevator opens. Xander covers Buffy while they step out.
Xander starts to lead the way, but stops - taking in the enormity of the Initiative operation with amazement. "Holy moly."
"I know." Buffy says.
"Wow." Piper says. "You said this place was big."
"I totally get it now. Can I have sex with Riley too?" Xander says.
Buffy just pushes him ahead. They turn a corner into a hallway where they see a pair of guys walking toward them, deep in conversation. She looks around and luckily there is no one else in the hallway. "Piper."
Piper freezes the two guys and they walk past them before Piper unfreezes them.
They overhear some scientists talking around a corner and stop. It's Dr. Angleman and a colleague.
"How many of the men are still out? The longer they go without their meds –" Dr. Angleman says.
"Everyone's off their schedules because of the Professor's death."
"It's dangerous. I don't want to think about the damage our guys could do under the stress of withdrawal, especially since they won't understand what's happening to them –"
"We've located all but a few. The last ones were in bad shape, but we've stabilized them."
"But Finn wasn't one of them, right?" Dr. Angleman says.
"No, but –"
"Find him. He's the one I care about. He's too important to the work to lose now." Dr. Angleman says.
Buffy takes this with concern.
Dr. Angleman and his colleague finish their conversation and go their separate directions.
Dr. Angleman comes down the hallway. Buffy signals for Piper and Xander to move with her as she follows after Angleman, slowly closing the gap between him and them.
Dr, Angleman walks down the lengthy hall, then turns and goes down another long hallway for some distance.
Finally, Angleman uses his passcard to enter a CLASSIFIED AREA. Buffy looks around her and sees the coast is clear and grabs Xander and Piper's hand flaming out and in on the other side of the door.
Dr. Angleman, Buffy, and Xander are now in a large document vault. The first level is all file cabinets and such, while the second level holds the computer data and is accessed by a catwakj which lines all four walls of the room.
Dr, Angleman moves to one of the file cabinets, but before he gets there, Buffy grabs him, throws him against the wall. Xander watches for intruders.
"You know, I don't generally like to kill humans - but I've learned it pays to be flexible in life." Buffy says.
"I was wondering when you'd turn up." Dr. Angleman says.
"Oh - darn - so this wasn't a surprise." Buffy says. "I want you to tell me what you did to Riley. And after that, we can take a tour of room 314."
"Somebody's coming, you know. I'm sure they've already seen you on the security monitors –" Dr. Angleman says.
Riley steps in from another entrance. "Monitors are non-functional at this time, sir." He stares hard at Buffy. "Went down about ten minutes ago."
"What? I didn't –" Buffy says.
"Thank God for small favors and worry about the details later, huh Buff?" Xander says.
"I agree, Buffy." Piper says.
"Finn. Take these people to the stockade, immediately!" Dr. Angleman says.
"Riley - he can tell us what we need to know." Buffy says.
Riley doesn't acknowledge her - but he also doesn't move to stop her. Angleman becomes visibly more terrified as he realizes that he has to fend for himself here.
"Maggie wanted me dead, didn't she?" Buffy asks.
"She did." Dr. Angleman says. "But understand, the Initiative has no interest in eliminating the Slayer. It was her own vendetta –"
"Why? Spell it out for me. I feel an attack of dumb blonde coming on." Buffy says.
"I don't know –" Dr. Angleman says.
Buffy tightens her grip, "Think harder."
"It was the - project." Dr. Angleman says.
"Project? 314?" Piper asks.
Dr. Angleman nods, "It - it escaped –"
Riley has gotten upset again. Can't tolerate this description of Maggie. "That's enough. You're making her sound like some psychopath. She wasn't like that. She was a brilliant woman –"
"She was. It's not –" Dr. Angleman says.
"All she was trying to do was help people - and this is how you want them to remember her?" Riley says.
"Riley. Listen - We heard Angleman say that she was feeding you drugs –" Buffy says.
Riley gets in Buffy's face. "No! You're doing this to me, aren't you? This all started because of you."
"If you'll just listen. All I'm trying to do is help you get to the truth –" Buffy says.
"You want truth? Then tell me! What did you do to her, Buffy?!" Riley says.
"Stop it! I didn't do anything!" Buffy says.
Riley moves to grab her again but she blocks him and hits him once, he staggers back - but doesn't fall. He's starting to come back at her, but Buffy backs away - not wanting this fight.
"Riley - stop. This is not about us. Everything we need to know is here. We just have to find out what was in 314 –" Buffy says.
Before she can finish - the hideously skewered body of a military M.P. lands in their path from the catwalk above. Everybody looks up - stunned. Sees Adam standing there, looking down at them.
"Me." Adam says.
Piper, Buffy, Riley, Dr. Angleman and Xander look up at Adam, who paces on the cat walk above them.
Adam speaks with the care and deliberateness of someone who is just learning the language. "I've been thinking... About the world. I wanted to see it. Learn it. I saw the inside of that boy, and it was beautiful, but it didn't tell me about the world. It just made me feel. So now I want to know about me. Why I feel. What I am."
Adam steps off the catwalk, lands easily in front of them. Riley, Buffy and the others react with stunned silence - both to his leap and his frightening, pieced-together appearance.
Adam reaches into a pocket in his vest and takes a floppy disk out of it that reads ADAM "So I came home." He slips it into a disk drive in his chest. Immediately begins to process information, which he relays to the others. "I am a kinematically redundant, bio-mechanical demonoid. Designed by Maggie Walsh. She called me Adam, and I called her "Mother"."
Dr. Angleman, alarmed, tries to get control of the situation. Speaks to Adam as firmly as he can through his fear. "Adam. Maggie would want you to stand down."
"Yes. But I seem to have a design flaw." Adam says.
"Oh God..." Dr. Angleman says.
"In addition to organic material, I'm equipped with GP2D11 infrared detectors, 140 MWS, microspec 4000 sensors, a harmonic decelerator plus DC servo..." Adam says.
Buffy notes the arm of the Polgara which now belongs to Adam. She gets it what happened. "She pieced you together out of parts of other demons."
"And man. And machine. Which tells me what I am, but not who I am..." Adam says. "Mother wrote things down. Hard data, but also her... feelings. That's how I learned I have... a job here. And that she loved me."
"She wasn't your mother - and she didn't love you." Riley says, disgusted.
"Is that really the issue?" Xander asks.
"Now's not the time, Xander." Piper says.
"She made you because she was a scientist." Riley says.
"Riley..." Buffy says.
Adam reaches into his vest again. Pulls out another disk: FINN. He switches it into his disc drive, starts reading information. "Riley Finn..."
Buffy, Piper and Xander tense, move to position themselves between Riley and Adam, prepared to act if they have to.
"Stop. Those files –" Riley says.
"Oh. Mother created you too." Adam says.
"Maggie's not my mother. I have a mother. A real –" Riley says.
"A birth mother. But after you met Maggie, she was the one who shaped your basic operating system. She taught you how to think, how to feel. She fed you chemicals to make you stronger, your mind and body... She said that you and I were her favorite children, her art. That makes us brothers... family." Adam says.
Unable to hear any more, Riley moves forward, menacing. Piper, Buffy and Xander tense, ready to intervene.
"No. I am not like you." Riley says.
Adam is completely unthreatened. He looks at Riley, fascinated. Moves closer, studies the expression on his face. "That's pain, isn't it? Why? Because your feeding schedule, the chemicals, have been interrupted? Or do you miss her? Tell me –"
"I'll kill you." Riley says.
"You won't. You haven't been programmed to." Riley says.
"I cannot be programmed. I'm a man." Riley says.
Adam pulls out another disk. "It's here. The plan she had for us. What happens. How it ends."
"No..." Riley says.
"Do you want to hear?" Adam asks.
"No!" Riley says as he pulls his gun. Aims it straight into Adam's face. Buffy rushes forward, grabs for Riley's arm but Adam smacks the gun out of his hand and knocks Buffy on her ass at the same time.
Riley reaches back and punches Adam. This doesn't seem to faze Adam a bit. He simply knocks Riley back with one hand. It looks effortless - but the blow sends Riley flying. Riley lands hard, dazed.
"Riley!" Buffy says. "Piper I think time for exposure is long past."
Piper sighs and nods as she raises her hands.
Buffy gets up powering up a fireball.
Xander tries to hit Adam with his gun - Adam swings it and Xander into a wall.
Buffy throws her fireball and he just seems to feed on it as the fireball does no damage.
"Energy, thank you." Adam says.
Piper uses her exploding power on Adam but nothing happens. "He's immune to my power."
Adam and Buffy go hand to hand. It's clear that his strength is superior to hers. She barely manages to stay on her feet.
Adam notices Dr. Angleman, who is trying to make his way to the door. Adam casts Buffy off him - and is on Angleman before anyone can react.
In a flash, Adam's skewer is extended and thrust through Dr. Angleman's head.
Riley is back on his feet. He catches Adam around the neck from behind with his utility wire. He tightens the wire, cutting off Adam's air supply - but Adam reaches behind him, spins Riley around to face him directly and without expression he skewers Riley in the side, piercing him through.
Fueled by rage, Buffy attacks Adam again and he is forced to let Riley go. Riley falls to the ground hard, in bad shape.
Again, Buffy and Adam go at it. This time, however, Adam is winning from the gate. He hits Buffy again and again, each blow more brutal than the last. Finally, she falls - landing next to Riley. Adam is moving in for the kill when he's distracted by pounding on the door. He turns to Buffy.
"Thank you. This was interesting." Adam says. He leaves off the fight and crawls back up the catwalk. He disappears through the open vent he came through.
Buffy moves to Riley, takes his hand. She can tell he's in pain. "Riley. Are you –"
Commandos - with Forrest and Graham – enter just then.
"You got a demon in here. It escaped through that vent." Xander says.
"It's not the Polgara. It kind of looks like a man –" Buffy says.
"Right, and you just happened to be in the neighborhood." Forrest says.
"We all saw it." Piper says. "If you don't want to believe that's your problem."
"They're telling the truth. I saw it. It killed Angleman." Riley says. "Go. Now."
A number of the men, save Graham, Forrest, and a few others, take off after Adam. The strain of speaking seems to have used the last bit of Riley's energy. He's passing out as Buffy lifts him.
"He needs a hospital." Buffy says.
Forrest moves forward, looking to Graham to help him. They take Riley out of Buffy's arms, but Buffy continues to grasp his hand. "We'll take it from here."
"No. I'm going with him –" Buffy says.
"It's a military hospital –" Forrest says.
Piper shakes her head, "So? She can get in and out of said military hospital. Without you ever seeing her. She could move him to another hospital and you would never find him. I seriously suggest you let one of us go with him."
Forrest frowns, "I seriously doubt that."
"Fine you want proof." Buffy says. She grabs Forrest arm. "You're coming with me." She flames out. She flames in on top of the Golden Gate bridge. "Believe?"
"What are you?" Forrest asks.
"I'm not only a Slayer but a witch." Buffy says. "Now are you going to do as I want?"
Forrest nods, "Seems I have no choice. Know this though if you go public."
Buffy nods, "You reveal my secret. Yeah. Same goes for your guys. We both have each other over a barrel."
Forrest nods, "So we do."
Buffy flames back into the Initiative with Forrest. She looks at Piper, "Go with Riley. I want to check in with Giles and let him know about Adam."
Piper nods as she looks at Forrest. "Lead the way."
The next day on campus Buffy and Willow walk together, talking intently among other students.
"So how's Riley." Willow asks.
"They say give him a few days he should make a full recovery. He's thinking about asking for a discharge." Buffy says.
"And you don't think they'll expose you?" Willow asks.
Buffy shakes her head, "They know that we both have something the other doesn't want made public. If they expose me, I expose them and vice versus."
"So Adam… He's that big a threat?" Willow says.
Buffy remembers, appears shaken as she confesses, "I could barely fight him. He fed off my fireball. And Piper used her exploding power and he was immune. It sounded like Maggie designed him to be the ultimate warrior. He's smart, and fast... He gave the commando guys the slip with no problem."
"There's got to be a flaw..." Willow says.
"I'd say the part where he's pure evil and kills randomly was an oversight..." Buffy says.