Chapter 19: I Robot, You Jane Part 3

"I'm gonna kill Dave," Xander said. He strode across the floor in front of Buffy and Dawn, so upset he was practically waving his arms.

"He tried to warn me," Buffy pointed out.

"Warn you that he set you both up!" Xander turned to Giles.

"I don't understand what would make Dave do a thing like that," Dawn said.

Giles cleared his throat. "I think perhaps Paige and I do."

Xander stopped his nervous motion. "Care to share?"

Paige lifted an oversized book from one of the tables. "Does this look familiar to any of you?"

"Yeah, sure. It looks like a book," Buffy said.

Xander nodded. "I knew that one."

"I think I remember it," Dawn said. "It was the one Buffy uncrated and you had it put on the pile for Willow to scan."

"This particular book was sent to me by an archeologist friend who found it in an old monastery," Giles explained.

Xander hid a fake yawn. "Wow, that's really boring."

Giles glared at him. "There are certain books that are not meant to be read. Ever. They have things … trapped within them."

"Things ..." Buffy echoed.

"Demons," Paige said.

Giles took a deep breath. "In the Dark Ages, demons' souls were sometimes trapped in certain volumes. The demon would remain in the book, harmless, unless the book was read aloud." He pointed to a carved image on the cover. "If I'm not mistaken, this is Moloch, the corruptor."

"I have Piper and Phoebe looking through the our Book of Shadows," Paige said. "So far nothing."

"I on the other hand have found something. He is a very deadly and seductive demon. He draws people to him with promises of love, power, knowledge. Preys on impressionable minds."

"Like Dave's." Dawn said.

Giles nodded. "Dave, and who knows how many others."

Buffy leaned forward. "And Moloch is in that book?"

"No, he's not," Paige said. "Before you jumped to conclusions neither of us released him. When I found it the book was already blank. Giles told me it was in a very rare dialect, no one would have been able to understand it to even read it. What I believe happened is this, as Willow scanned the book it brought Moloch out as information to be absorbed."

Buffy nodded. "He's gone binary on us."

Xander held up a hand. "Okay, for those of us in our studio audience who are me, you guys are saying that Moloch is in this computer."

Dawn looked at him. "And in every computer connected to it by a modem."

"He's everywhere." Giles said, clearly appalled.

Dismay spread across Xander's face. "What do we do?"

Buffy looked at Giles and Paige. "Put him back in the book?"

"Willow scanned him into her file," Paige suggested. "This may be impossible, Moloch could have put up any kind of barrier to keep us from doing exactly what I am about to suggest. But we should try and delete the file."

"Solid," Buffy said as she grinned at Paige. She slid onto the chair in front of the computer, cracked her knuckles, and turned on the CPU.

"Don't get too close." Dawn said nervously.

"Okay, so which file do you think it is?" Buffy wondered aloud. She regarded the icons on the program screen. "Willow," she decided. "That's probably it, right? I'll … just delete the whole thing."

"Good idea," Paige said. "Worst case scenario she will have to rescan some of the books."

Buffy nodded as she positioned the cursor over the Willow file icon and dragged it over to the Trash. Then she nearly jumped out of her seat as the computer's program screen abruptly flashed to black, then re-formed into a digitized image of Moloch the Corruptor himself. The image turned and grew until it filled every inch of the monitor, and suddenly a voice—hateful and loud—roared from the computer's tiny speakers.

Stay away from Willow! It's

None of your business.

And without her touching it, the entire computer shut down.

For a long moment, none of them moved.

"'Stay away.'" Dawn paused. "That's just what Dave said when Buffy and I asked about Willow and ..." She looked at Paige, Giles and Xander. "Malcolm."

Xander's face went rigid. "What are you two thinking?"

Buffy looked up at her sister who nodded in agreement at the unspoken question. "I think Dawn and I are both wishing Willow's new boyfriend was just an axe-murdering circus freak."

Ten minutes later, and they still hadn't figured out any better way to deal.

"Okay," Buffy finally said in disgust. "So much for 'delete file'."

Giles expression had grown darker by the minute. "This is very bad."

Xander still seemed only slightly convinced there was a true problem. "Are we over-reacting?" he asked. "This guy's in a computer, what can he do?"

Buffy shot Xander an I-don't-believe-you-don't-get-it look. "You mean besides convince a perfectly nice kid to try and kill me and Dawn?" She shrugged in fake carelessness. "I don't know—mess up all the medical equipment in the world?"

"Randomize traffic signals..." Giles offered.

"Access launch codes for our nuclear missiles..." Dawn suggested.

"Destroy the world's economy..." added Paige.

Dawn looked at him. "I think I pretty much capped it with the nuclear missile thing."

Paige smiled at Dawn. "You are right, of course. Not much would be worse than a nuclear missile being launched."

Xander threw up his hands. "Okay, he's a threat. I'm on board with that now. But what do we do?"

Buffy tapped her fingers against the computer tabletop. "The first thing we do is find Willow," she decided. "She's probably talking to him right now. God, that creeps me out."

Xander scowled. "What does he want with Willow?"

The five of them looked at one another.

Paige had an inkling of what he might want, she remembered something Piper and Phoebe had told her about an attempt to steal the Halliwell family's Book of Shadows. Prue had been married through dark magic to a warlock and she, Piper and Phoebe had all been turned evil till they killed the person who had performed the ritual which turned them back good. Moloch might be trying to do the same to Willow. Which meant she needed to talk to the Elders and see if Willow was a witch.

"Let's never find out." Paige finally said.

"Okay, Dawn and I will check the computer lab," Buffy said as she and Dawn headed for the door. "Paige, maybe you should orb to her house. See if she's home?"

With that, Buffy and Dawn were out of the library and hurrying down the hall, much more frightened for their friend than they would ever cared to admit.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The computer lab was a dark room. The cubicle where Willow usually worked was empty—as was every other one. Before either Dawn or Buffy could ponder this, however, there was the electrical hum of equipment, then all the monitors flickered to life at once. Then they just … sat there, as if they were staring at her and waiting for something. Or someone.

"Willow?" Dawn said.

"I …" Buffy started. "Let's get out of here."

Dawn nodded as she moved toward her sister, as she did so she bumped into something. She looked up and her hand came up to her mouth and she bit her knuckle in distress. "Buffy," she whispered.

Buffy turned and saw that Dave hung from a rope fixed to the ceiling, his corpse rocking from side to side, the rope creaking softly in the stillness.

"Dave..." Dawn said.

Hesitantly Buffy reached out and stopped the sway of the body so she and Dawn could read the note taped to his chest. Neither of them believed a word of it.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Paige orbed in on Willow's front porch. As she started to knock, the door swung open, unlocked. "This isn't good," she said to herself as she stepped inside. "Willow?" Thanks to Buffy and Dawn's directions, Paige knew where Willow's bedroom was. She hurried up the stairs, making a beeline to the very room. "Willow?"

The moment Paige stepped into the room she realized it was empty. On the bed was Willow's book bag. She looked around and her gaze stopped on the computer and the message that had come up, obviously from Malcom.

No more waiting. I need you to see me.

"See him how?" Paige wondered. "And where?" Then the answer came to her. "Possibly CRD? Buffy and Dawn did tail Dave there. I bet whatever Moloch is doing its happening there."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy and Dawn got back to the library in time to see Paige orb in.

"Willow's not home," Paige said to the sisters. "I believe she may be at CRD."

"What leads you to believe that?" Giles asked.

"Simple, Dave went there. If Dave was one of Moloch's followers then it makes sense he would go where Moloch sent him and for a reason. Whatever that reason is, it's there." She looked to the sisters. "You two need to go to CRD. Try and rescue her. I'll help Giles try and bind him again."

Buffy nodded as she took Dawn's hand, she was surprised when she felt Xander's hand in her other.

"She's my friend, too," Xander said.

Buffy smiled at Xander and nodded and then the three of them orbed out.

"How are we going to bind him?" Giles asked.

"You have the ritual?" Paige asked.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy, Dawn and Xander orbed in just inside the gate.

"Back way?" Xander suggested.

Buffy nodded. "Back way."

They darted across a small open area, then they were at the door. Buffy tried the knob, found it locked as expected, then reared back and kicked the thing out of their way.

With a glance at behind them, she motioned Xander to follow her inside CRD.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Willow came to lying on a steel gurney. She sat up quickly to find herself in a lab of some sort, but much darker than the facilities at school and deeper in shadow. Everything she saw was made of high tech metal or plastic. As her gaze swung around, Willow finally pinpointed the door, a lighter rectangle amid the gloom.

But before she could stand and run for it, figures filled the entryway.

Welcome. My love.

Willow shook her head and tried to clear it. The voice—it was familiar, but not. She found her footing and turned slowly, still trying to get her bearings. Glowing in the darkness at the other end of the room was a computer terminal, and Willow finally realized who she was hearing.

I can't tell how good

It is to finally see you—

Then to Willow's horror, a heavy, metal hand lowered into view and rested on top of the monitor.

She didn't want to, but she had to lift her head until she saw the rest of the package attached to. The voice, Willow realized, hadn't come from the computer at all. Rather, it had come from this … thing stepping out of the darkness and coming toward her, a huge, horned demon, hideous to look at and made entirely of gleaming metal. A robot, complete with malevolently glowing red eyes.

—With my own two eyes.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"So what's the first thing the ritual says," Paige asked when Giles had returned with the ritual text.

"The first thing we have to do is form the Circle of Kayless," Giles said. "But there is only two of us. That's really more of a line."

"Actually," Paige said. "If he's in the computer. We have to form the circle on-line. I'll be right back." She then orbed out. She orbed to Piper, Phoebe and Joyce and then proceeded to orb them around the country to internet cafes with the instruction to contact her once they were online. Then she orbed back to the library. "Okay, I have Joyce, Piper and Phoebe in internet cafes around the country. Once were all online we will be able to form a loose circle."

Concern creased Giles's forehead. "Won't Moloch just shut you all down?"

"Well," Paige said with a determined expression, "I'm betting he won't figure out what we're doing until it's too late."

"'Hoping' and 'betting.' That's what we've got." He stared at the computer as if his wished he could help it along.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Willow edged backward, trying to put distance between her and Malcom. One foot, one more… then the white-coated scientist realized what she was doing and grabbed her by the arm. Instintively, she yanked roughly away, then glared at Malcom. "I don't understand," she said. "What do you want from me?"

The metal demon gazed in her direction, as if it couldn't believe she didn't know.

I want to give you the world.

"Why?" Willow demanded.

Another gray metallic stare before he answered.

You created me. I brought these humans

Together to build me a body, but you gave

Me life. Took me out of the book that

Held me. I want to repay you.

Willow shook her head, fighting not to cry. "By lying to me. By pretending to be a person?" She paused struggling even more with unshed tears. "Pretending that you loved me."

I do.

Before she could reply, Malcolm spread his huge clawed hands as if in supplication.

Don't you see? I can give you

Everything. I can control the world.

He stopped for a moment and Willow thought she could almost see the thought processes going on in his computerized head, the files being read and stored, the cross-referencing. His next words confirmed her suspicions.

Right now a man in Beijing is

Transferring money to a Swiss Bank

Account for a contract on his

Mother's life. Good for him.

"You're evil." Willow said flatly. But Malcolm wasn't all perturbed by her statement.

Is that a problem?

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy marched through the hallway door and met a security guard midway. He blocked her path and reached for his weapon, but Buffy's fist made friends with his nose without her even breaking stride.

"Buffy—" Dawn shouted from where she stood next to Xander looking at a security station.

Buffy turned and looked to her sister who motioned her over. When she stood beside Dawn and Xander, he pointed at the figures on a small video monitor built into the desk above a label that read Robotics Lab 02.

"It's her!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Yeah," Xander agreed.

They peered at the screen, where Willow was facing off with something else—something huge and dark and menacing. Panic edged Xander's voice.

"But who's the other guy?" Dawn asked.

Without answering, Buffy sprinted for the door followed by Dawn and Xander. Inside were stairs and it wasn't hard to follow the signs to the second floor. Finally they burst into the room adjoining where they wanted to be, but when Buffy yanked on the handle to the door marked Robotics Lab 02, she found it solidly locked.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Almost there," Paige said. A map of the United States was splayed across the computer screen in front of her, and on it was a line running from Sunnydale to various cities around the country. Point to point, they blinked to form a national circle.

Giles frowned at it. "Couldn't you just stop Moloch by entering some computer virus?"

"You've seen way too many movies," she said without taking her eyes from the screen. "Okay—we're up!" Now she did turn to him, her expression all business. "You read, I type. Ready?"

"I am," Giles answered.

Paige rubbed her hands together before posing them over the keys.

Giles cleared his throat and began reciting the ancient binding ritual. "By the power of the diving," he intoned. Paige typing rapidly, keeping up with every word. "By the essence of the word. I command you—"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Let me leave." Willow begged.

But I love you.

The sound of the metallic voice uttering those special words nearly made Willow break down. "Don't say that! That's a joke—you don't love anything!"

You ... are mine.

Her face twisted in anger and regret, Willow stood her ground as he stepped toward her. "I'm not yours—I'm never gonna be yours. I hate you."

That seemed to make Malcom pause. He lowered his heavy, horned head. After a moment, he lifted his chin and the light pulsed behind his eyes.

Pity. I'll miss you.

When he grabbed her head, his speed was much more terrifying than Willow had expected. She was screaming even before his fingers began to tighten.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Giles's voice was filled with righteous power, one hand gesturing as he recited the ritual. "By the power of the Circle of Kayless, I command you!" He paused for a moment and looked at the screen, then back to Paige. "Kayless. With a 'K'."

Paige stabbed at the erase key. "Right. Sorry."

Giles looked back at his book and took a deep breath.

"Demon, COME!"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

In the midst of her scream, Malcom suddenly let her go.

He reared back as if someone had looped an invisible chain around his neck and pulled, and his own bellow—long and harsh—cut through the room.

Suddenly behind Malcom Buffy orbed in with Xander and Dawn.

"Buffy, Xander, Dawn!" Willow cried.

Malcolm reached for Willow again and Buffy drew herself up, and launched into a flying kick straight at the center of Malcolm's stomach.

The robot demon tottered backward but maintained its balance. "Ow!" Buffy exclaimed as she thumped to the floor. "Guy's made of metal."

Behind Buffy, the lab guy grabbed at Dawn who squinted and sent flying backward hitting the wall hard and sliding to the floor unconscious. Xander yanked Willow toward the door, but not before Malcolm saw them and planted his hulking robot form in front of them. His arms stretched out, then he clutched his head and screamed again.

No! I won't go back—!

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

The library computer hummed and suddenly popped, sending a shower of sparks over the keyboard as the screen flashed.

"Whoa!" Paige said and scooted backward.

"I COMMAND YOU!" Giles bellowed.

Paige knew what was at stake as she squared her shoulders, leaned over and banged out the words on the keyboard, ignoring the sparks and the whirlwind of colors now streaming across the screen. She hit the Enter key with a solid thwack! And a sort of cosmic boom filled the library, swirling around her and Giles with nearly tornado force.

Then it was over, and the screen went dark.

"It worked!" Paige said triumphantly. "He's out of the net. He's bound!"

Giles blinked at the screen, then reached for the antiquated leather-bound volume and flipped it open.

"He's not in the book," Giles said slowly.

Paige's eyes were huge and she hurried over. "He's not in the book?" Then she saw the creamy, blank expanse of the old pages. "Where is he?"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Willow, Xander, Dawn and Buffy scurried through the lab door and they made for a door farther down the hall. They were right on top of it when it swung open, revealing the security guard from the first floor with two more scientist-types for backup. Before the uninvited trio could come through, Buffy slammed the door shut again and twisted the lock below the knob.

Xander tugged at Buffy's arm. "Let's go this way!" He sprinted in the other direction.

Buffy looked at Dawn and Willow. "Wait!" she called. Suddenly the entire wall in front of them literally exploded as an enraged Malcolm smashed through it. It turned its head, saw Xander when he spun back, and backhanded the boy. Willow screamed as the robot grabbed first Buffy and then Dawn and tossed them against the other wall as though they were made of nothing but feathers. Stunned, they both slid down and didn't move.

There was no denying the robot demon was furious. His eyes were burning coals, and when he spoke, his voice was black thunder, sinking into their eardrums like shards of steel.

I was omnipotent! I was everything!

Now I'm trapped in this shell!

Still dazed, Willow realized that all Buffy and Dawn could do was wait as Malcolm's terrible clawed hands reached for them both.

"Malcolm!"

The metal monster turned at the sound of Willow's voice. She'd seen the oversize fire extinguisher on the wall and now she hefted it, then smashed it into his head as hard as she could.

"Remember me?" Willow demanded through gritted teeth. "Your girlfriend?"

Before Malcom could recover, Willow swung the fire extinguisher again—

"I'm thinking we should break up!"

—and again.

"But maybe we can still be friends."

She tried to swing a fourth time, but Malcom knocked it out of her hands, then hit her. She went sailing through the air and crashed into Xander as he tried to stand.

Malcolm swung back at Dawn and Buffy. Untangling herself, Willow saw her friends wobble upright, then Buffy automatically punched the robot in the stomach.

Bad idea.

"Ahhhh!" Buffy yelled, backing up and shaking her hand.

"I could have told you," Dawn whispered as she squinted. But Malcom didn't move an inch. "Dang powers. He's either too heavy or it's because I'm still learning.

The Malcom robot matched the sisters step by step. His next words were filled with evil intent.

This body is all I have left,

But it's enough to crush you.

Dismayed, Willow realized that Malcom had now backed Buffy and Dawn into a corner—there was no escape. Then she saw Buffy glance behind her and focus on a huge, high voltage breaker box right above her shoulder. She nudged Dawn and nodded with her head. Dawn nodded as she followed her sister's gaze and together they took a final backward step and grinned at the monster.

"Take your best shot." Buffy and Dawn said simultaneously.

Malcolm drew back his gleaming fists and drove them toward her Buffy and Dawn's faces with everything he had—

—and Buffy and Dawn ducked.

Malcolm's punch slammed into the breaker box. The smell of electrical current filled the room as mini flashes of lightning zipped over and around Malcolm's robot form. He shook violently and took a step toward Buffy and Dawn as smoke and sparks poured from his eyes. His heavy jaw quivered but no sound came out.

The sisters didn't wait around. "Get down!" Buffy screamed as she and Dawn dove to the floor next to Willow and Xander.

It was then that Malcom exploded, and when the smoke finally cleared, all they could do was sit there and stare at Malcolm's lifeless, metal-sheathed head.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"How's Willow?" Paige asked Buffy the next day.

"A little glum," Buffy responded with a sigh as the two of them sat in a restaurant eating dinner. "Her first boyfriend and he turned out to be a demon robot."

"I wish I could say you all will learn from this lesson," Paige said. "But you all can't help who any of you will fall in love with. Just look at us."

"I know," Buffy said. "Xander had a crush on a giant praying mantis and I'm in love with my Whitelighter. Who knows what supernatural thing Dawn will fall for? But given the trend it will be something supernatural."