Chapter 8: Going Rogue - Part 1

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::Sam winced. Once again she had managed to offended one of the scoobies. This time it had been Dawn. Dawn was the only scooby whom she didn't feel completely nervous around. Sam really didn't mean to hurt her feelings. She knew from Riley how much Dawn meant to Buffy. Buffy wouldn't want any harm to come to her. Besides she wasn't really worried about danger as she was that Dawn might become bored if there wasn't any action. She turned to Dawn.::

Dawn: "Oh Dawn. Don't take it the wrong way. I want you long. So does Riley. I just was thinking Buffy might not be too happy if she found out where we are going and what kind of people would be lurking about. I'm not trying to say you can't take care of yourself. I'm sure you can. Please accept my apology Dawn. I am truly sorry. I'm sure you will be just fine."

::Trying to make up for her mistake Sam turned back to Faith.::

Faith: "Yes Dawn is fine. She can go."

::Sam looked over at Riley. She gave him a wink.::

Riley: "How about soldier? I guess we should get going too? We're not going to get any information just sitting here."
 
[Guest House]

"Alright you guys get going, I'm gunna hang back here and get out of these bloody rags. Report back before sunset if possible." Faith said addressing the Sam's group. She really hoped Dawn wouldn't get killed, then Buffy would blame her, and Sam..when Willow was the one who suggested she go anyway. Faith just hoped it wouldn't come to that. "Good luck" she nodded with a smile as they left the guest house.

After they left Faith went to pick up the Scythe and brought it with her into the bathroom. It wasn't safe anywhere but by her side. Inside the bathroom there was sink, toilet, all the usuals except this bathroom looked to be newly done. Their were parts of the plumbing coming out of the wall and the shower looked like it was made of solid wood.

"Aww... I really don't need any splinters" she said to herself as she placed the scythe onto the counter and looked at herself in the mirror. She was still carrying a small cut on her face, covered by her hair which hadn't yet healed. Her hands were drenched in blood and you could barely see her skin color anymore on her hands. There was blood smear marks on her cheeks and near her eyes. It disgusted her, not that it was blood, but that it was a little girls blood.

Her boots aswell looked ruined. With her other foot she pulled the right one off and kicked it into the air catching it with her hands. "Yea, dammit they're ruined." She set it down on the toilet seat then took the other one off and did the same. As she bent over she realized her hair felt dry and funny.Pieces of it had begun to stick to her blood soaked face and when she pulled them back off from her face she winced a little. It hurt but she wouldn't admit it, to anyone other than herself. She turned on the faucet to the sink and tried to rinse the blood from her hands. This was not the first time she had to do this. 'It probably won't be the last'

After several minutes of scrubbing parts of her hands became visible again, turning back to there original pigment but for the most part there was still 'blood on her hands' She groaned and gave up trying. She reached for the rag cloth sitting beside the scythe on counter and wet it with some water. The water was cold, and she wanted it that way. She still planned on taking a shower and had no idea how much hot water these monks had. She wasn't going to risk it.

With the damp end of the cloth she touched it to her face and began to clean off the blood smears. She could here the girls in the other room talking about building a perimiter and securing the compound.. the mighty guest house compound.. and she laughed. One of them actually referred to it as that. She wanted to be alone though and being in the bathroom cleaning her face didn't achieve that if she could still here them so she walked over to the tub and turned on the faucets. It took a few seconds and then began spraying out water from it's head.

She left it on cold so she could change out of her clothes, then she'd turn it up. She began to lift her shirt over her head then remembered it was still sticking to her stomach and stopped herself. From underneath she slowly lifted up the shirt to reveal where her stomach met her pants then saw that the blood had soaked though and for some reason was sticking to her skin. With her left hand she held up her shirt and with the right gently rubbed beneath the cloth slowly moving up her stomach. Each part of her shirt that pulled freed made Faith wince in a slight shock of pain which lasted on as if frozen in time. With one final tug the shirt came away from her stomach and she lifted it over her head throwing it onto the dresser.

"Well I won't be wearing that again."

Unbuckling her jeans she went back over to the faucet to turn off the running water from the sink. When the belt gave way she etched out of them and they fell to the ground around her. She stepped out and undid her bra and set it down on the counter. 'Probably the only thing I can salvage, go figure'

She walked over to the tub and lifted her foot over stepping in and pulling the curtain around her as she lifted her other foot in. The water was freezing and she started shivering and lifting away her feet as it hit them. She quickly turned on the heat and a few moments later the warm water was rushing out and steam filled the air. The only thing cold now was her feet from the remaining water that had yet to siphon into the drain.

"Ah.." she moaned relaxing herself, letting the water hit her face and wash away the blood. She closed her eyes as she felt the droplets of water trickle down her body. She knew if she opened them all she would find would be a tub lined with blood. But she did have to open them,she couldn't find the soap! She looked around and saw it laying on the other side of the tube facing away from the shower head. She bent down and picked it up then grabbed her stomach. A red rash had formed where the bloody shirt had stuck to her stomach just below her bellybutton. She began to run it with the soap to ease the slight pain she felt, then she began to wash away the rest of the blood from her body.

The warm water and the steam gave her a sense of piece in a world of torment, she had always loved taking long hot showers. The feeling of being alone and disconnected could do that to a person. Her own little safe haven. But this wasn't the time for that. Faith new it. The sun would be rising any moment now and when it did she would be in the thick of things looking for the mystery slayer.

'I wonder what Laura is doing right this very moment, probably already healed and back in the fight herself no doubt. Roughing it up with the other girls.'

She drifted off into thoughts of what people were doing right this very moment and ended on Drucilla. 'Killing, eating, feeding, killing..'

She sighed turned the water to it's hottest setting. At first it stung but then it calmed her down. Her hands were now back to there usual radiant color, and she hoped the same was true for her face. There was a bottle of shampoo which obviously hadn't been bought in mind for women, but she picked it up anyway. She poured a few drops onto her hands then rubbed her hands through her hair. Her fingers meeting knots and blood clumped bits. She worked it in then rinsed it out. The water was beginning to get warm, not hot, warm so she hurried up a bit and finished washing the rest of her body.

When the time came she didn't want to get out of the tub and deal with the rest of the world she wanted to stay there, to sit down in the tub and place herself in a ball and just let the water hit her for forever but she killed the thought and slowly opened the curtains to reveal a steam filled room blocking out most of the light. She stepped out and grabbed a towel that was against the wall and began to dry herself off. When she finished she turned off the shower. She didn't know why but she liked to dry off before turning off the water, maybe it was the soothing sound, or the fooling everyone on the outside but she did it.

Stupidly she had forgotten to bring any clothes into the bathroom, or with her... "Well I'm the smart one aint I.... hmm..." She thought for a second on what to do then wrapped the towel around herself and walked out of the bathroom leaving everything behind. The girls were still cleaning up the mess when she came out. "Hey." she smiled at them. "One of you wouldn't happen to have anything I could wear...would ya?"

Thankfully to her relief one of the girls laughed and answered her. "Yea, sure, I have something you could wear." she said rummaged through her luggage bag which was in the corner of the living room and pulled out a pair of jeans and a black shirt. "Here" throwing them at faith who caught them in her arms and smiled thankfully.

"Well, you girls keep up the good work." With a wave she turned back around and headed for the bathroom to change into the other slayers clothes. 'Next time plan ahead!!'
 
:: Before the group had left the house Dawn decided it was probably important to be armed. After all this was her life. Running into her room Dawn rifled through her suitcase in search of something in particular. Smiling, Dawn reached into the suitcase and pulled out a silver dagger, it's handle embedded with gold carvings. Slipping the beautifully crafted weapon into the back pocket of her jeans, Dawn made sure her shirt covered it before walking out and smiling at Riley, choosing to snob Sam. ::

"I'm ready when you are."
 
Spike's jaw nearly hit the floor when Faith assigned him to Xander. "Whut the hell is this all about?!" He barked, shooting to sit up straight. "Since when in the bleeding hell did I take orders from Miss Rogue and Repentant? AND WHUT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!"

Nobody was listening. Wankers. He hunkered back down in his seat and tossed Faith a sarcastic half-grin when she mentioned him going up in flames. Bint'll like that, wouldn't she?

Spike was struck damn near speechless when Xander got up and left, tossing him a snide remark about the radio. Spike stood up, inhaling the last of his cigarette and stamping it out in the ashtray. He narrowed his eyes at Faith. "You'll pay for this," he snarled. He glared in the direction of Xander's receding back. "If the wanker makes it out alive."

He stomped off to his room and grabbed his blanket, running to meet Xander in the Jeep. "None of that sodding country you like so much," he muttered.
 
[Jeep]

Mesektet Ra said:
He stomped off to his room and grabbed his blanket, running to meet Xander in the Jeep. "None of that sodding country you like so much," he muttered.
Click to expand...

Spike: "Remember when you were dead? That was nice. Peaceful, even. Let's go back to that."

:: Xander started up the engine and took off down the road toward Katmandu. ::

Spike: "Besides, that was one time, Spike. ONE! And it was only because you were tied up in my basement at the time. I do not listen to country."

:: As he drove, he chugged down half of his second soda. Then, he flipped through the radio stations. ::

Talk Radio "“ in foreign mumbo-jumbo speak, of course.

Chanting.

Talk Radio.

Europop

Traditional Music.

More chanting.

:: Xander turned the radio off. ::

Spike: "So, uhh"¦ you bring any"¦."

:: He looked at the stereo. ::

Spike: "Beta tapes?! What, are these monks from the Dark Ages? Who says you can't be enlightened and appreciate music at the same time? Haven't they heard of Nirvana?"

:: Ahead of him, Xander looked at the horizon, which was showing the first faint signs of gray dawn light. ::

:: He checked the rear view mirror to see how Spike was doing"¦ and then he remembered why that was a dumb idea. ::

Spike: "So, uhh"¦ if I can't see you in a mirror, how come we can catch vampires on camera for like, pictures and movies? I nver did get that."
 
[Freak Street -- Drusilla's lair]

:: Having received orders from her ishta-devata, Indra nodded once and stood up from her position of supplication. ::

She had offered murti not in the form of incense or prayers, but in the form of blood. No one would miss the young beggar whose body now rotted in the corner. It was not what the offering should be, but Drusilla condescended to receive it.

:: Along with her weapon, a sword in the tradition of Kali, Indra retrieved the remains of her offering and departed via the sewers. ::

She could leave the body there. No one would notice the stench.

:: She took care to hide the corpse far from Drusilla's residence, leaving it in the sewers beneath Bhaktapur before she surfaced. ::

:: From Bhaktapur, she took a taxi to her ancestral home. ::

The driver raised his rates when he saw the quality of the material of her now sodden shalwar kameez, but it was no matter. Money was no object.

:: While the driver took her the long way "“ and circled the block unnecessarily more than once "“ Indra pondered the great one's words. ::

DarklyDreamingDrusilla said:
I can feel that she is not as good as the others. She has done bad things in the past. You must feed on this weakness to obtain the scythe.
Click to expand...

How would she find one lone girl? Drusilla had given her no indication of the girl's whereabouts. She had informed her only that the girl was now separated from her cohorts. Certainly, Drusilla's orders were a test. She must not fail.



[Kathmandu -- Indra's Home]

:: Finally, the taxi arrived at Indra's gate. She paid him well and entered her family home. A servant greeted her at the door. She addressed him coldly and in Nepali: ::

Servant: "Report. Have any strangers arrived in my absence? Has anything unusual happened?"

The man bowed reverently and replied that a yeti child had nearly been slaughtered by a band of Americans in residence at a nearby monastery. The weapon of choice, he informed her, had been a scythe. The yeti had barely survived an attack from a fierce warrior and her consort. A monk had been able to repair the damage, but the yeti community was very wary of the superstitious, violent strangers. They were spreading the word that the newcomers were not to be trusted.

:: Indra held up her palm, silencing the man at once. ::

Her act of murti had not gone amiss. Drusilla was even now guiding her actions, she was certain. It could not be coincidence. This vicious, violent warrior who had, with a scythe, attacked an innocent child must be the very woman whom Indra was ordered to seek out.

Servant: "Arrange for my transportation to this place. I will travel by oxcart. I must see this warrior and her scythe."

:: Quickly, Indra changed into a simple robe. She did not bathe or comb her hair. Although she hid her sword as well as a small dagger under her robes, she did her best to appear as one of the innocent, common rabble.

I must focus on her weaknesses. Indra reminded herself as she was driven, by a filthy oxcart and amid lay Buddhists and child monks, to the monastery of which her servant had spoken.
 
Feeling confidant that Indrea would find this other slayer who had the scythe. Drusilla calmed herself and walked to her room. She laid down on her bed staring up at the canopy above draped with colorful fabrics. She laid there peacefully untill she curled up into the fetal postion and held her fingers to her temple. She began to quiver.

"Oh, no it is William. I see him coming! And he brings another American along with him. They are getting closer."

As soon as they heard her screaming a few demons ran in the room to see that Drusilla had now fallen to the ground.

"Go, go find them! They have just left for their journey and they know where we are presiding. Find them. One is like me and his head is full of sunshine and the other dons an eye patch. Bring the blonde one to me, kill the other..."

As she said this she stood up face to face with one of the demons and began to rotate two of her fingers in the air getting closer and closer to his eyes.

Demon

"Do not worry, master we understand."

With that they left for their hunt.

Drusilla then laid back down on the bed to rest. These visions were constantly getting more and more intense and little bits of the past seemed to be leaking into them. The memories that she had lost were still there somewhere and they were leaking into her mind slowly.
 
Brushfire Training camp

Willow stood in the kitchen of the Brushfire training camp, her eyes closed, her mind concentrating on connecting to Dawn's, to speak directly into her head.

Dawn, big sis wants me to check in on you, she's not to happy with your leaving, please tell me no ones dead?
 
:: Dawn could here Willow's voice in her head, calling to her ever so quietly. She had only ever attempted this with Willow a couple of times and the concept was still strange to her. Closing her eyes Dawn took in a deep soothing breath and concentrated on the image of her friend, so very far away. Still not comfortable with psychically communicating Dawn spoke out loud. A fact which she knew would probably freak out the Finns.Trying to clear her mind of all emotion and distractions Dawn could feel herself become empty as the voice in her head became more clear. ::

Willow: "Willow? Tell Buffy everything's fine. We kind of had a run in with a yeti, but Faith sorted it out."

:: Dawn decided to leave out the fact that the yeti had in fact been a fairly innocent girl. Faith and Buffy may be on speaking terms but it didn't mean the two slayers were exactly trusting of each other. ::
 
[Guest House]

The shirt didn't fit quite right, but the pants bunched in all the right places so she could deal with it. She felt naked without her jacket, but that couldn't be helped, all blood soaky and all. She brushed her hair so it didn't look like total crap then picked up the Scythe and walked out of the bathroom into the main room where the girls were busy at work.

"Alright girls, take care of care of yourselves. I'm going to head into Kathmandu to search for Miss Slayer. I should be back in a couple of hours. If I'm not... then worry!!" She smiled but she was serious. If she didn't come back then they better high tail it after her.

They waved and as she was walking out the door she added one last thing before getting into a car and heading for Kathmandu.

"Catch ya later." 'Be safe'

[Kathmandu]

The sun had just risen overhead and the streets were surprisingly cluttered in most parts with waking citizens going about there day. She wasn't a morning person, so she didn't get why some of them had smiles on their faces. A few of them even looked happy.

'Weird'

The scythe looked awkward in her hands to those who saw her with it but she didn't much care. She was trying to bring attention to herself. She thought she looked cool. Then she looked down at her 'kitty cats are cute' shirt and frantically walked around awkwardly looking for a shop. After a few minutes of searching through the shop streets she came around a dark corner where the light above barely touched the walkway. The lights inside weren't on either, the shop hadn't opened yet.

'Perfect'

She went around the back to where there weren't any onlookers and cracked the back window on the door with her elbow. The glass shattered and the pieces came crashing to the ground but no one was around to here it, so it didn't matter. She slipped her hand through the opening and opened the door. She walked in and looked around for something that didn't suck. They had maybe 3 leather jackets to choose from. That didn't surprise her. She ripped the tags off the one she liked and heard someone coming at the front door so she ran back out the back. She was a wanted woman.

In the alley she slipped into her new jacket which fit like a glove then hightailed it back to the street across the way and began looking for anyone who might know of a kick ass super-chick with an attitude problem. 'It can't be that hard.' She thought as she came by a pub that had obviously been open the entire night before and was just now beginning to push out the drunks who fell asleep.

She walked by one of the drunken bums who was hitched up against the wall with a beer in one hand. A few empty bottles lined the ground near his feet and his eyes looked black and dead. 'Some people never learn.' She gave him a look of disgust and walked into the bar to find that oh so pleasant beer aroma filling the air. There were two men playing pool near the back, a couple in a booth near the far end and a man sitting at the bar getting a drink from the bar tender. She'd start there.
 
Spike hunkered low in his seat, folding his arms. An unlit cigarette dangled out of his mouth. His lips twisted into a wry smile as Xander freaked about the beta tape player. "Welcome to Nepal, wanker," he said, almost giddily. As long as Sparrow here can shut his bloody gob, this ride'll be perfect, he thought sarcastically. That wasn't going to happen.

Spike raised an eyebrow at Xander as he asked about the pictures and movies. He plucked the cigarette from his mouth and lit it, rolling down the window just a crack. He gathered his blanket and pulled it over his head and shoulders as dawn broke the sky. "Somethin' about magick, and the demon soul or some bollocks," he muttered, trying to smoke and keep his face covered from the encroaching sunlight. "Dru explained it to me once. Y'know her - poor bint has a tendency to prattle. Wasn't really payin' much attention."
 
::Sam watched as Dawn came out of the guest house to meet her and Riley who were waiting in the only jeep left sitting in front of the guest house. Sam could tell Dawn was hiding something underneath her shirt. But chose not to say anything as she could tell Dawn was still upset with her. It was probably a weapon of some kind. At least she came armed in case she'd need it. Though Sam seriously hoped Dawn wouldn't.::

Riley and Dawn:"Are we ready to go? Next stop Freak Street."

::Sam double checked the map one more time before she started the engine and head towards Kathmandu. For Sam the drive was a quiet one with the exception of Riley and Dawn joking around with each. Dawn was clearly ignoring her. No big deal. Typical teenager. She'll get over it eventually. Sam hoped anyway. As they reached their destination point she turned down the radio a little.::

[Freak Street]

Riley and Dawn: "Okay you two quit playing around. It's time to get serious."

::Sam had to smile at Riley and Dawn. The two of the were like brother and sister almost. She parked the jeep on one the side streets not quite a block off Freak Street. But just enough so as they wouldn't draw any attention while Riley and Sam gathered some weapons that sat in the back seat. After they gathered the weapons they head on up to Freak Street by foot.::
 
[Freak Street]

The sun wasn't shining very brightly yet, but it was shining and the citizens and tourists of Freak Street were bustling. Xander and Peroxide Boy needed a sewer entrance, discretion, and a whole lot of shade, none of which were easily available on Freak Street, even at the butt crack of dawn.

:: Xander blushed. ::

Butt crack of Dawn? That even sounded dirty "“ and uncomfortably plumber-like "“ in my head!

Fortunately, there were more pressing matters at hand, and Xander was able to bend his brain in a more"¦ less"¦ just a not Dawnie-related direction. He was actually glad they'd been separated. As much as he hated Spike "“ and that was an ungodly amount of much "“ it was good not to have her complicating things with her flirty crush-girl routine. He just hoped Spike wasn't picking up on those vibes. They weren't his fault, those vibes that made his palms uncomfortably sweaty whenever the littlest Summers was in the picture, but he wasn't sure Spike would much care.

:: After scouting for a parking spot not guaranteed to turn Spike into a crispy critter, Xander parked the jeep near an alley that featured "“as one of its many prime inducements of the trash and waste variety "“ a manhole. ::

Also in its favor were the overhanging roofs of the pagoda style buildings on either side. It was as close to non-flammable and discreet as they were gonna get in such a touristy part of town.

:: Xander put on the emergency break and took the keys out of the ignition. ::

Spike: "Down the alley. About twenty feet in, there's a manhole at twelve o'clock. Not much direct sun. I'll go first and open the manhole. You just head in."

Then, so as not to sound overly caring or helpful or anything "“ this was Spike after all, he added:

Spike: "Got it?"

:: Without waiting for an answer, (because, again, Spike) Xander as-casually-as-possible exited the vehicle, strolled into the alley, and held open the manhole cover while trying not to look like an out-of-place idiot with some kinky waste obsession. ::

:: Still holding the cover, Xander shrugged. ::

This is Freak Street, after all. Where better to look like an out-of-place idiot with a kinky waste obsession?

It was the right look, but the wrong decade.

Which, again, could be useful in our hunt for vampires, especially if we're looking for everybody's favorite Loony Toon.
 
Kean
Kean
LOL..The Butt Vrack of Dawn...you are freakishly good at this!
[Monastery]

:: Under cover of the thick forest vegetation, Indra approached the guest house from a safe distance. ::

There was no knowing how many enemies waited inside. At least one, she was certain, was employed in the task of reinforcing their defenses. She could tell by the rhythmic hammering. It was a lucky break; she was able to match the sound of her movements to the hammer's swing.

The house was guarded, she noticed, by two Western girls. Obviously trained warriors, the girls carried traditional, honorable weapons just as comfortably and naturally as other Western teenagers might carry IPODs. None of the weapons, however, resembled the promised scythe. One carried a crossbow. One carried a sword. Both, she noticed, wielded wooden stakes.

:: Indra swallowed back her anger. ::

So these are the devi killers from my dreams, then, she thought. I will spill their blood and present it as an offering to she whom they would kill.

The warriors kept a tight watch, varying their routine so as to thwart those who might attempt to memorize their timing in order to slip past them. Still, there was an opening. At irregular intervals, one girl would be obscured by the rear of the building while the other would approach the treeline above which (Indra was not fool enough to seek ground cover) Indra waited.

:: When the moment was right, she leapt from the tree, sword pointed downward. ::

Instinctively, the girl looked up, crossbow raised.

She was too late. Most people "“ most warriors, even, would have died before they knew they were under attack. Indra's blade would have penetrated at the neck and the base of the skull, killing the victim instantly and as painlessly as possible. That was not the case with this girl, who seemed to possess a preternatural awareness akin to her own. Instead, due to the girl's sudden movement, the blade pierced through the nose and continued down the throat, cutting off the enemy's oxygen supply and destroying her ability to cry out. It was a gruesome death. Indra was sorry for that.

:: Placing one foot against the shoulder of the slain "“ or nearly slain "“ girl, she took her sword in hand and employed her strength quite liberally in order to retrieve it. The gore, she allowed to remain. She would take it back with her. ::

If the enemy had not quite been dead when the sword had gone in, she was dead now. The blood did not spurt from her as it would spurt from one who was living.

:: Pleased with the success with which she had dispatched the first guard, Indra took up the crossbow and stealthily returned to her perch. ::

Now, she had only to wait for the second guard to come within range of her arrow.

Drusilla be praised.
 
G
GATEGOD
I guess Faith will have to kill Idra for that.
[Kathmandu - 2 hours later]

[Bar]

Faith's unendless questioning, was about to come to an end. She had hit seven different bars in the area in the past two hours and was drawing dead. None of them had any tales of a drunken super chick kicking everyones ass. 'Maybe she doesn't like the high life'

"Nah." That's what Faith said an hour ago... now she wasn't sure. Hitting all these bars and not taking a single sip was weighing on her. 'How could a slayer not be noticed in a place like this. God dammit.'

Disgusted with herself she tightened her grip on the scythe and walked back out onto the street which was now firmly lit by the sun overhead. The heat was beating down on her, and she was tempted to remove her newly acquired jacket but realized the kitty cat shirt was still a no go. Their weren't many people out now, 'probably off to their jobs or something' Faith thought as she walked down the street in search for another bar to inspect but still she wouldn't be caught dead wearing this. And she wasn't going to be.

'Maybe a bar isn't the best place to look..'

She sighed and headed over to the pay phone. Maybe the others were having better luck and had already checked in. Being Faith though she didn't have any money. She looked side to side and saw another person walking down the street on the opposite side. He checked her out, as most guys did, then kept walking past. After he left she smashed the machine with a fist to the side and change began to poor out of it. She glanced over her should again then slipped a few quarters into the pay phone as the rest fell out all around her clinging the ground below.

She dialed up HQ and waited as it began to ring. 'God I hope they found something. I'm getting nowhere! This girl must be a geek or something' Another ring rang through the phone then she heard someone on the other end. "Hey." the girl answered. "Who's this?"

"Faith." she said rolling her eyes, who else would it be. "Has anyone else reported back in yet with any new info? I'm not faring as well as I hoped, It's like she's a shut in or something."

"Nah, nothing yet." The slayer answered.

"Damn. Well I don' know wh.." she was cut off by someone in the background.

It sounded like someone screamed or something. Then she heard the girl she was talking to yell into the receiver. "Mira is dead!" 'Mira?' Faith thought than instantly remembered the name, one of the girls names. It was the girl who had lent her the precious Kitty cat shirt.

"Faith!" she heard the girl cry out on the other end. Then the sound of others in the background.

"I'm on my way! I'm .. get out of there! I'm on my way." She didn't hear a response. Only fighting in the background. 'Oh my God' She let the receiver slip from her hands, dropping, nearly hitting the ground below. It would have made contact if it wasn't for the lightly stringed cord which now retracted the phone slamming it into the side of the wall. The moment the phone had left her hand she was already 10 feet away running back towards the car, back to the monastery, back to what she hoped wasn't three dead girls. She couldn't even imagine if Dawn had stayed behind, so she didn't. All that was on her mind was getting back to the monastery. Whoever was responsible.. whoever killed Mira would be dead by morning in Faith's eyes.

She hit the car at full speed, nearly pulling the door from it's hinges as she ripped it opened and jumped in. She turned the ignition, starting up the roar of the engine and placed the car into gear plowing her way back to the Monastery praying all wasn't lost.
 
Dru's Lair

The demon nodded at Dru, understanding what he had to do. He turned and left the lair.

Freak Street

They had picked up on their scent moving quickly through town, clearly in a car. The demon followed the scent, skulking in the shadows, he watched as the one wearing the eye patch went to the manhole and lifted it for the blonde demon to enter. Wanting to get them before they descended, the demon charged out of the shadows, tackling Xander to the ground. The manhole cover fell to the floor with a crash.

As eye patch lay on the floor to catch his breath, the demon spun around and punched the blonde in the face, sending him sailing into the wall. Turning to finish off Eye patch, he raised both hands above his head, but was stopped by an attack.

Recovering, he flung out his arm and this time sent Eye patch into a cart, with the cowering shop owner hiding below it. Turning it's attention back to the vampire, he head butted him, knocking him back into the same wall. The Vampire dropped to the floor, unconscious.

The demon turned to, again, finish off Eye patch, but decided it was to much work with this many people around. He picked up the vampire, and tore the manhole cover from the ground, sending it flying into the air. He jumped down, holding the limp body of the demon in it's strong hands.

Dru's Lair

The demon entered the room were Drusilla still lay on the bed, and threw the demon down on the floor.

He grunted at Drusilla and left the room, leaving Drusilla and Spike alone.
 
Drusilla awoke suddenly because a a loud thunk caused by her demon cronie droping William to the ground. She began to clap with excitement.

"Oh, another dollie for my collection!"

Demon: "Come back in here with some shackles we need to chain him up tight. He is a strong one little William."

The demon came back in with four shackles, which he connected to the wall just across from Drusilla's bed and he picked up Spike's limp body and wraped the shackles around his two ankles and then his wrists.

Demon: "Good, that should hold him. Now leave us."

Spike:"William, wake up. William..."
 
[Freak Street]

Xander had the wind knocked out of him. His chest felt empty. For several seconds, he flailed around on his back, making fish faces as he tried to suck in air and yet failed to inflate his lungs. Also, he must have hit his head, because it hurt like a"¦ well, it hurt enough to keep him from thinking of anything clever to think.

:: When he could breathe again, Xander reached up and grabbed the side of the fallen cart, knocking more trinkets off the side, of course. Before he could stand, a few pounds of little bobble headed plastic Buddha dolls spilled down onto him. ::

I am sooo getting tired of this Buddha guy.

Thinking was hard. His mind was"¦ crowded. The kiosk owner lambasted him furiously. Others, tourists and locals alike, gathered to gawk. One hippy asked if he could help. Another more straight-laced tourist suggested to her group that he was hopped up on drugs. Of course, no one offered a hand. That would cut into important point-and-laugh time.

:: With a sigh, Xander used the cart to pull himself into a standing position. ::

He apologized profusely "“ and pointlessly, since he did so in English "“ to the startled kiosk keeper. This did not prevent the keeper from yelling. In fact, it just made him yell louder.

:: Xander tried to calm the man, but then, with a jolt, he remembered where he was and how he'd fallen. ::

Spike!

:: His heart did the racy thing and his eye searched frantically for a pile of dust. ::

When he didn't find one, he felt a surge of"¦ relief?

This was quickly followed by shock mixed with shame in equal measure.

I thought I wanted that guy to die!

Still in a daze, Xander's first thought was to get away from all the yelling, noisy, angry people. His throbbing brain gave an extra "ow" every time the kiosk owner screeched or stomped"¦ which was, naturally, once every two seconds or so.

:: Xander gave himself a shake and barreled through the crowd. He ran to the alley and dropped into the sewers. ::

Just as he suspected, nobody followed. Sewers may be typical Scooby territory, but normal people "“ those of the sane variety "“ tended to avoid them.

:: Once safe in the relative, yet stinky, calm of the sewers, Xander took out his cell phone. With the press of a button, he activated the walkie-talkie-function that would contact Faith and Sam. ::

Well, it would contact Sam, anyway. Faith never bothered to carry hers. Communicating with the team was too"¦ team-like for her.

Sam (via Walkie Talkie): "Come in, Commando Team. Come in. Immediate backup requested. Man down. I repeat: man down!"

Looks like soldier boy is back.

To clarify, he snapped out of soldier boy mode and added:

Sam: "A demon attacked. It, umm, it"¦ took Spike. Not sure where. Or why. But my money for who is on that little Miss Loony Tunes that he shacked up with for, oh, a century. Any ofyou guys good at tracking sewer demons?"
 
[Freak Street]

::Sam, Riley, and Dawn were walking up to Freak Street when Sam heard her cellphone. She stopped abruptly, reaching into her pants pocket, grabbing her phone. Someone was trying to contact her via walkie-talkie. It was Xander and it didn't sound good.::

Xander: "Here. Commando Team here. What's your location Xander?"

::Sam motioned to Riley and Dawn to start looking for an entrance to the sewers. The sewers were the last place she really wanted to take Dawn but it didn't look like they had any choice. Xander needed their help. Spike and Xander had been attacked and Spike was missing. They had to be getting close to Drusilla lair and Drusilla knew they were here.::

Xander: "Yes Xander, Riley and I have done our share of tracking sewer demons. We'll find it."
 
[Sewers]

:: Xander radioed back his location "“ the sewers between Freak Street and Durbar Square "“ and informed the team that he'd entered via a manhole in an alley right beside the bobble headed Buddha stand. ::

Sam: "I'll sit"¦ 🙂: Xander paused and looked at the muck all around his feet. :🙂 or, you know, maybe just stand"¦ right here. Over and out."

:: While he waited, Xander left a message on Faith's cell. ::

Faith: "Yeah. It's me. Xander. I'll probably see you before you get this message but"¦ just call when you get this message. A demon umm"¦ stole"¦ Spike."

:: Calls made, he looked around at the sewer. ::

There was no way of really knowing where it had gone. It was a scaly, red-eyed demon, not a goopy one. Unfortunately, he and Spike hadn't even been able to wound a blood trail out of the thing. The last thing they'd expected was a broad daylight attack on the middle of Freak Street. I guess I shoulda been prepared.

:: Xander brought his hands to his face and rubbed. ::

Xander: "Aww, man. This is so not of the good! Buffy's gonna kill me. How am I gonna tell her I lost her"¦ vampire? One of her vampires? Geez, what is it with her and vampires?"

:: He sighed and pulled his hands away. ::

One side came away red. And sticky.

That's when he realized that he had a big gash above his brow. His good eye "“ or, really, his only one "“ was swelling up. Okay, so not the eye itself, but the skin around it. He was getting a shiner.

Well, there go my rugged good looks.

The one eye look was working for him. He rocked that eye patch. But two eye patches? That would just look silly. Not to mention blinding.

Carpentry's all like "Opps! Nail in the hand!" That, you recover from. But Scoobying? Blindness and loss of body parts and dead fiancés, oh my!

:: Xander groaned. ::

I shoulda gone to college. Majored in"¦ checkers. Yeah, checkers. That sounds safe.

:: He looked at his watch. ::

Five minutes had passed. Five minutes, he'd spent alone in a sewer.

:: He pulled the walkie talkie back to his face and barked: ::

Sam: "Commando Team, report!"

:: He looked around at the muck. Not only was he a sitting duck in case that demon came back, he was a cold, dirty, uncomfortable sitting duck. ::

And it'll be back. That's for sure. I am nothing if not a demon magnet. That thing is a girl demon with a pirate fetish. I'll lay money on it "“ that is, I would, if I actually had any money of my own, which I don't. Ah, the joys of watchering. Err, umm, watching?

:: Xander shivered and added: ::

Sam: "It's all cold and icky down here. If I gotta suffer, so do you, missy."

:: He sighed and took out his half-finished soda, which he drank on the spot. ::

I knew I'd be taking my bathroom break in the sewer today. Yup. I lead a charmed life.
 
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