Chapter 8: Going Rogue - Part 1

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike dreamed, deep in his concussion. There were images - images of slaughter, Drusilla, Angelus, Darla. His memories crowding his mind. Drusilla's face, smeared with blood, a grin of maniacal, delirious glee plastered across her face. Angelus punching him until his eyes had swollen shut and the taste of his own blood was thick in his throat. Darla and her angel's face, grinning that soft grin of dangerous intent.

"Willy, wake up. Wake up, Willy."

There was a hand on his shoulder, and a familiar voice. The memories were flooding him again, making his head throb, taking up too much space in brain.

He wrenched forward in one move and roared thunderously, vamping in a second. He was nose to nose with Drusilla.

"You finally get what you wanted from me, you loony bint? Did tearing my bloody head open solve your sodding dilemma?" His words dripped with rage, the pain in his head growing more red-hot with every word. His voice was like acid in the air, burning the scant centimeters between him and Drusilla. He was panting, even though he didn't need the air. His rage fueled his blood as his hands curled into fists.

 

[GATEGOD]

"Ugh" Faith moaned, leaping from the bed as the girl sprung up and chunks flew from her mouth. Faiths hands held high as she manuevered to get out of the way in time. "Gross" she let out as chunks of blood dripped from the girls mouth and bits stained Faith's pants.

The girl's eyes darted from place to place searching for answers. She looked frightened and Faith still didn't know who she was. The girl interrupted before the monks could spill. 'Instead the girl spilled..'

The girl began to back up and stared crazily at the monks. Faith wasn't quite sure why she was so scared, yes she went through an ordeal but these people had just saved her. 'Could they be evil as Xander had suspected?' Faith was about to ask her for her name when she began to yell in a strange language. 'The language the monks were speaking before.' Faith glanced back to see the monks faces, they looked nearly as upset as the girl was. When she turned back the stranger had picked up a wooden stool, and was trying to use it to keep them back.

The girl cried out again and Faith was again confused.'The monks should be doing something... Why are they just staring at her?'

'Fine. I'll do something'

Faith etched forward a few feet and lowered her weapon. The girl was waving the stool at her like a trainer to a fierce lion. "What's you're name?" The girl didn't answer and Faith moved another step closer. "Can you understand me?" she asked? The girl's chair waving was becoming a bit of an annoyance and every attempt to speak to her was being met with resistance. The monks were trying to tell Faith to step back and the girl was trying to make Faith step back, so what did Faith do she stepped forward.

One of the monks called out a name, "Indra" and the girl broke eye contact with Faith. A split moment later the girl turned to face the monk who had healed her who was still standing off to her right.(Faith's left) Faith saw the girl change her position, she went for the stool. Before the girl could react Faith had tore it from her hands, and had thrown it behind her, out of the girls reach of ocourse.

"Now can you understand me?" she asked again trying to keep a soft tone.

 

[Indra_RPG]

[Monastery]

The monks called her name.

How do they know who I "“ she wondered.

Before she could complete the thought, the scythe bearer snatched away her weapon "“ such that it was "“ and approached her. She stepped forward cautiously and, in what Americans took to be a calming tone, kept asking whether or not Indra could understand her.

:: Indra backed against the wall. ::

If the monks somehow knew who she was "“ who she really was, as in a being in possession of mystical powers rather than just as in a wealthy socialite "“ then playing up her helpless act would no doubt cast suspicion upon her. If, on the other hand, the monks did not know of her true identity and she displayed unusual talent or force, she could unnecessarily ruin her cover.

Damn monks! she thought angrily.

:: She pointed at the monk who had spoken her name and, in Nepali, shouted as if confused: ::

Monk: "You! How do you know my name? Who am I?"

:: Indra cowered. ::

The monk cleared his throat and replied, also in Nepali, "You are Indra, devotee of the Pratyekabuddha."

Pratyekabuddha? Indra thought with what would have been an eye roll if she'd felt at liberty to do so. Buddhists!

Monk: "What else?"

:: The monk took a nervous step back. He was afraid of her, Indra realized. ::

He knows.

The monk replied only that he knew she was a Hindu known to have occasional Buddhist leanings (Only as needed, Indra thought with an inward scoff) and, also that she was of the Chand family with their estate in Kathmandu.

:: Indra began to calm. ::

:: In Nepali, she addressed the monks: ::

Monk: "Mention my devi in front of this American, and I will kill you. You know who I am, so you know I can do it. She is an enemy of the pratyekabuddha "“ and she hit me with her car while I was on my way to devotions. I do not trust her. Do you understand?"

:: The monks nodded warily. ::

:: Still shaking slightly, Indra turned to the scythe bearer. She schooled her features into a wary smile and slowly, as if afraid, extended her hand for a shake. ::

:: She spoke haltingly, as if still frightened, but in English: ::

Scythe bearer: "I "“ I speak English, yes. Forgive me. My name is Indra Chand. I ap - apologize for my behavior; I was disoriented. The last thing I remember, I was hit by a car."

:: Indra frowned and, before the scythe bearer could respond, she turned to the monks and, in English, asked: ::

Monks: "Where is my husband? Have you notified Rajnath of this accident?"

The slight tremor in her voice was, this time, unfeigned. She did not wish for her husband to know of her misadventure. In fact, she did not wish for him to know much about her at all. He had access to her fortune. He had the run of her father's company. He had access to the heir she'd given him only just last year. She could not imagine what more he could reasonably demand or what he might gain from further access to her person or her plans, but persist he did. Fortunately, as the family estate and fortune belonged to her, the servants were loyal to her, and she came and went as she pleased. Still, being married was certainly an inconvenience. Indra did not appreciate the fact that, by law, Rajnath had the right to be informed when she was hit by a car. If he had been called, his presence at the monastery would be a complication. Indra's duties were split: there were those she chose, like Drusilla, and then there were those who, like Rajnath, were chosen for her. The two did not mesh well.

 

[Wanabee-slayer]

:: Dawn laughed as Xander mistook her for the ladder and helped point him to in the right direction, before following up up in to daylight gratefully. As Xander made his way to the jeep, Dawn took a moment to savour the fresh air which the sewer had not offered before quickly running after Xander as he stumbled yet again. Upon reaching the Jeep, Dawn immediatley unlocked it and helped usher Xander into the passenger side. ::

Xander: "Yeah, I don't think sleep is a good idea right now!"

:: Grabbing Xander's seatbelt Dawn leaned over him and secured it firmly in place, knowing that his hand eye co-ordination wouldn't be the best right now, especially since his only eye was now obscured by a large amount of blood. Leaning back up Dawn patted Xander lightly on the leg before closing his door. ::

Xander: "Don't worry Xand, we're gonna have you at the monestary in no time, just try not to fall asleep okay?"

:: Running around the side of the Jeep, Dawn climbed in behind the wheel and put the keys in the ignition. ::

 

[DarklyDreamingDrusilla]

Spike: "Oh, poor little William. Look at what you have become. A sad little boy now that you are not close to your slayer. Couldn't get her to love you enough? Well you will never find anyone who will give you more devotion than I did. I stayed with for a hundred years. Did I not? And then you had to go off and work with that little slayer and ruin my plans to destroy the world. And now, yes I smell it on you, a soul. You went and got a soul. How you have changed William. We could have been happy forever and look at what you have done. Gone and messed it up just like you did with that little Cecily, before I sired you. I made you Willy and what have you done? You betrayed me. Well you will be sorry for that soon enough because you will find that I am stronger than ever now. I have more followers beneath me than ever and we will finish what we came here to do. But don't fret we still have some time....for now. Hmm, what to do? What to do?"

Drusilla began to walk over to her dresser and there sat five different bottles of clear liquid labeled Holy Water. She began to click her nails on the top of each bottle and then she stopped at the end and picked up the last bottle.

"This will work...."

 

[Slayergal]

::Sam really had to agree with Xander. They really needed backup this time. Too bad they hadn't brought a backup team of commandos with them. She'd even feel better having them as back up then going in alone right now. Besides what's the worst that could happen to Spike. If Drusilla and him had a past together it was far unlikely that she would kill him. Sam look around the sewer a moment then look over at Riley.::

Riley: "How about it soldier? I'm all for the demon tracking but Xander's right this time. I think we're better off to wait for backup. We don't have the means to fight it or Drusilla at the moment. Come on you know we don't stand a chance without a slayer by our side."

::Sam stopped as she said that last sentence. She couldn't believe she had just said it. As much as she felt uncomfortable around the scoobies and even more so around Faith. She had admitted something she would have never admitted in front of the commandos they worked with on other demon fighting missions. With that she headed back up the man hole to the street above not waiting for Riley to speak.::

 

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike: "Oh, poor little William. Look at what you have become. A sad little boy now that you are not close to your slayer. Couldn't get her to love you enough? Well you will never find anyone who will give you more devotion than I did. I stayed with for a hundred years. Did I not? And then you had to go off and work with that little slayer and ruin my plans to destroy the world. And now, yes I smell it on you, a soul. You went and got a soul. How you have changed William. We could have been happy forever and look at what you have done. Gone and messed it up just like you did with that little Cecily, before I sired you. I made you Willy and what have you done? You betrayed me. Well you will be sorry for that soon enough because you will find that I am stronger than ever now. I have more followers beneath me than ever and we will finish what we came here to do. But don't fret we still have some time....for now. Hmm, what to do? What to do?"

Spike couldn't stop himself from laughing at her. Happy forever? What the sodding hell was that about? "I knew you were crazy," he chuckled, "But I didn't know you were stupid, love. You dumped me, remember? Or did that little bit of information escape the sodding mind-meld you just pulled on me?"

He was trying so very hard to keep this front. Part of him still loved her - ached for her, in times he didn't want to think about. But this was Drusilla. Insane, psychotic, lovely Drusilla and the entire bloody point of flying all the way to sodding Nepal in the first place was to get rid of her.

Xander's question came floating back at him. No, Spike wasn't ready. He'd never be ready. God, how he wanted her to just leave him alone. He wanted her to leave Nepal, leave the continent, go somewhere where Cardboard's military prats wouldn't find her so he would never have to see her again.

And Buffy...the Buffy he met in the alley had become a different person. A person he loved, yes. But she barely paid any attention to him, or to any of them except to issue orders and get the mission done. Oddly enough, his thoughts drifted back to Gwen. Sparky seemed to be to only one to understand a little of what was going through his head after the battle in the alley.

He'd been through hell and back for Buffy, and he would do it again in an instant. But he didn't know how to talk to her now, and it ate at him.

Spike's head shot up, darting out of his thoughts. He glared openly at the bottles of holy water arranged on Dru's vanity. Let the games begin, love.

 

[palabravampiress]

[Jeep "“ Freak Street]

Dawn helped Xander into the passenger side.

Xander: "Yeah, I don't think sleep is a good idea right now!"

She then even went so far as to help him into his seatbelt, patting him on the leg and saying:

Xander: "Don't worry Xand, we're gonna have you at the monestary in no time, just try not to fall asleep okay?"

As Dawnie patted him lightly on the leg, Xander felt the blood drain from his face.

I shouldn't need this much help, he thought. I mean, concussion. No big. Little bitty brain injury next to brain suckage and eye-optemy and torso impalement and all the other bumps and brusies that come with this Scooby gig.

It was Xander's own fault. If he'd been sleeping and working out more regularly and not gorging himself on caffeine and just generally taking care of himself like he was always telling the mini-slayers to do, then he wouldn't have been so thrown by that demon. His reflexes would have been faster. His coordination would have been better.

I wouldn't need to be babysat"¦ babysitted? "¦ baby *anythinged* by a teenage girl.

:: Dawn's constant refrain of I'm-not-a-kid came to Xander's mind. He smiled. ::

Not that Dawnie's a kid, of course.

But still, it was all irksome. The thought that Dawn was old enough to take care of him now instead of the other way around, well, it gave his skin the creepy crawlies. Dawn was always the one person he could take care of. He'd clocked field time, so he had her back when needed. He'd been babysitting Dawn guy and drive-Dawn-to-school guy and fix-what-was-broken guy. He'd even been object-of-the-crush guy (Still am, apparently, he thought). The point was, he'd always been there for her. When Dawn was hurting because slayerdom wasn't in her cards, he made with the emotional support. Even just recently, when she'd had a stake buried in her belly, he'd been there with the save and again with the first aid. To have those roles reversed"¦ it was, umm, weird.

Xander: "Don't worry Xand, we're gonna have you at the monestary in no time, just try not to fall asleep okay?"

Dawnie talked all reassuringly and then closed the door.

See? That's what I'm talking "“ or, I guess *thinking* "“ about!

She was so self-assured and confident and the opposite of needy. Partly, it made him smile, cuz with the pride thing. Dawnie was growing up so well, and he liked to think he had a thing or two to do with that. But then there was the other kind of pride"¦ that macho, not-so-cool-in-Scooby-land pride that pricked at the thought of little Dawnie being the one to rescue him. He'd always kinda liked having at least one damsel in distress in the picture. It gave him a politically incorrect, patriarchal happy to be all useful with the saving and the fixing. And now that was gone. Maybe it was the brain bump just exaggerating everything, but the thought that the tables had turned, well, it didn't exactly give him a happy.

Nope, not happy. *Impotent* might be a more apt description, he thought glumly.

He missed Anya. Impotence was one thing she'd definitely never made him feel.

Running around the side of the Jeep, Dawn climbed in behind the wheel and put the keys in the ignition. Sam and Riley joined them shortly thereafter, and they headed off back toward the monastery.

Group: "Sooo"¦ sorry about the brain bruisage. And the blindness. And the general decrepit-ness that is me. But hey, on the plus side, at least we got a lead on Drusilla and her kooky slaer buddy. We find Spike, we find Drusilla. Who knows? Maybe he's getting information out of her right now!"

 

[GATEGOD]

As Faith was trying to wrap her head around the situation one of the monks shook his head indicating he hadn't spoken with the womans husband. The girl's hands seemed to be shaking but Faith still didn't understand wasn't sure about what was happening in front of her. 'The monks seemed agitated by the girls presence and were almost trying to warn me about something. But what?'

'Why did I hit this girl?'

'How did I hit this girl?'

Suddenly a flash hit her hard , it was as if she had been punched, but from within. A light flickered across her vision and the accident sped through her mind. She saw it, out of the corner of her eye...

"Why did you run out infront of my jeep?" she asked before the thought itself struck her mind. She cocked her head to the side and glanced down at the girls body. She seemed alright.

'What is going on?'

'First the girl, then the girls.. now another.. Come on. What the hell is going on.'

The thought alone of the girls bodies in the guest house a few hundred feet away only brought the sensation of letting it all go for all the world to see. She couldn't though she had to hold back any tears she might have had at that moment. Xander and the others were off who knows where, while the girls dead bodies, just lay there... all that blood. She shook her head and blinked holding herself in place, wanting to know why all this was happening.

'Has the karma train swung around for a second, third.. one hundredth go ?'

Yes. Of course it has.

 

[Indra_RPG]

[Monastery]

"Why did you run out in front of my jeep?" she asked before the thought itself struck her mind. She cocked her head to the side and glanced down at the girls body. She seemed alright.

:: Indra glanced up sharply. ::

Perhaps this American is more clever than I had previously supposed, Indra thought grimly. Perhaps that is why she is entrusted with the scythe.

:: Indra took a deep, cleansing breathe. She calmed her trembling hands. She eased her countenance into a concerned, timid smile. Arms outstretched, Indra approached the scythe bearer and ushered her into the chair she had just vacated. ::

Scythe bearer: "Perhaps the monks should heal you now they are finished with me! Truly, you look very ill. Please put your mind at ease! Do not trouble yourself on my account."

:: Indra indicated her well-healed body. ::

Scythe bearer: "Look. I am quite well. You brought me here. You saved my life! How can I ever replay you?"

:: Indra looked at the English-speaking monk. She addressed him in that language. ::

Monk: "Please go and retrieve some water, if you would be so kind."

She shook her head and blinked holding herself in place, wanting to know why all this was happening.

:: Then, sitting on the edge of the bed with her back to the monks and her kindest, most radiant smile directed at the scythe bearer, she turned her attention back to the upset American. ::

And her smile was radiant. Of this, she entertained not a single doubt. Rarely had she met with an adversary whom her smile could not tame. The devi Drusilla insisted it was part of Indra's gift. It was what would, in time, make her worthy of moksha. Her devotion, her preternatural strength, ability, and cunning were all mixed with a glimmer of the devi's own hypnotizing second sight. She was a chosen one. She was nearly ascendant. There was another like her, Drusilla said, and possibly many more. On that, the devi was unclear. If all went according to plan and Indra served her well, Indra would then be permitted the honor of joining their ranks. Her brilliant smile, her bold fearlessness, her physical strength and strength of character"¦ with these gifts and her fortune, there was no earthly station Indra could not achieve. But it was not an earthly station she desired; no, her destiny was with Kali. It was with Drusilla and, when the time was right, with Ansara, as well.

But first, I must obtain the scythe, she thought. It is my dharma. I cannot fail.

Scythe bearer: "And in answer to your question, I was traveling home by foot. I dropped my bread and, with my mind so"¦ preoccupied"¦ I walked out into the road to retrieve it. My husband, you see, disapproves of my Buddhist leanings. I was"¦ quite agitated."

:: Indra looked down. She forced her eyes to moisten, but held back the tears. ::

One who has done bad things, she reasoned, has most likely had bad experiences into which I can tap. Besides, it is not wholly a lie. My husband has grown unfortunately meddlesome as of late.

Scythe bearer: "My husband"¦ he"¦ well, one hardly speaks of such things, you know. I will not have you concerned on my account, but suffice it to say that I should get home."

:: Indra plastered her face with a forced smile "“ one that she very much wanted to appear forced. It was important to keep the scythe bearer's sympathy. ::

Scythe bearer: "But before I depart"¦ is there any way I can thank you? Any service I can provide in compensation for bringing me to these monks and saving my life? Expense is no object, Miss" I am sorry, I don't believe I caught your name."

 

[GATEGOD]

Faith hesitated, but had no reason to lie. The girl looked like she was on the verge of tears, yet she was fine.. A minute ago she was terrified and now she was trying to comfort me? God maybe the monks need to recheck her and all. Atleast she isn't trying to kill me. That's always a plus.

"Faith." There was a silence for a second as if Indra had not taken it in. "My name, it's Faith."

Glancing back around she saw a few of the monks had left. 'Not a good sign.'

When she turned back around the other monk was walking in with a glass of water. Faith shot him a look as he walked over and handed her the water.

'Girl who nearly died... or girl who nearly killed her.'

'Tough choice. Not.'

Faith took the glass with both hands and looked down making sure he hadn't poisoned her. It would suck to go out like that. Proving Xander right.

Never. After a second or two of a cold stare she looked back towards Indra. "You need it more then I do Queen Shiva. Here, take it. I'm fine, feel great infact." Faith couldn't help but lie, saying she was dead inside wasn't much of a conversational piece.

Faith smiled and handed over the glass to Indra. Didn't matter if she wanted it or not. Indra was almost dead a few minutes ago. Faith wasn't going to overlook that.

Changing the subject, "So... about these services?" Faith said with a laugh. She did need some new leather threads after all. Blood kept finding a way to ruin her look.

 

[Indra_RPG]

[Monastery]

The scythe bearer hesitated, but only for a moment.

"Faith." There was a silence for a second as if Indra had not taken it in. "My name, it's Faith."

Faith: "It is a pleasure to meet you."

Faith then declined the glass of water. After staring at it for some time, she then offered it to Indra, instead.

"You need it more then I do Queen Shiva. Here, take it. I'm fine, feel great infact."

:: Indra accepted the glass and the smile that came with it. ::

:: As discreetly as possible, she swished the water around in her mouth. ::

Along with the uncomfortably metallic hint of blood that reminded her of how uncomfortably close she had come to dying that day, the foul taste of her own stomach acids and half-digested bread still clung to Indra's tastebuds. The water was a welcome relief.

:: Her instinct was to gulp it down, but that was not possible. More than mere habitual politeness caused her to sip the water slowly. ::

Her throat still burned. Her stomach still protested. The monks had healed her most grievous injuries, it was true, but they could not manufacture blood to replace that which she had lost. They could not cleanse her of her vile, unworthy attachment to the mortal coil or the fear she felt in having so nearly left it.

:: Suddenly shaky, Indra sat down on the bed and finished the water. ::

In her weakened state, the walk home would be arduous and unpleasant, she was sure. The water would do her wonders. She might also consider procuring additional sustenance along the way.

Indra was willing to die for her cause. She entertained no doubts on that score. She merely hoped that her death, when it came, would occur under controlled circumstances.

Indra was glad when Faith, who seemed half lost in her own thoughts as well "“ thoughts that Indra hoped contained elements of grief, pity, and guilt that might work in favor of the devi "“ looked up and asked:

"So... about these services?"

:: Indra met Faith's eyes and smiled warmly. ::

Faith: "I assume you are here "“ "

:: Here, Indra paused to gesture at the beautiful, yet also sparse and rustic, monastery walls that surrounded them. ::

Faith: ""¦ for reasons of spiritual fulfillment. The rusticity of your accommodations must reflect that, I am sure, and perhaps that is your design in settling here. If, however, you would prefer to experience my country as a tourist rather than as a wandering ascetic, I would be more than willing to offer you the hospitality of my home near Durbar Square."

:: Ignoring her head rush and the weariness that overtook her limbs, Indra stood and handed the now-empty glass of water to one of the monks. ::

Monks: "Thank you for your hospitality. You have been most kind. I will see to it that your generosity is well-compensated. Perhaps your monastery will see an expansion this year."

:: She then turned back to Faith. ::

Faith: "Call on me tomorrow or at any other time. If I am not at home when you call, rest assured that the servants will be left word to assist you with anything you might need. The shopkeepers will be able to direct you. The Chand name is well known, as is the palace that is our home. It is the least I can do for the woman who saved my life."

:: Indra steeled herself for the long walk home and departed. She walked slowly at first. But later, when she had regained some of her strength and was sufficiently far away from the monastery as to not cause concern, she called upon her preternatural abilities to increase her pace. ::

Perhaps I can climb on board a passing Oxcart or other vehicle, she thought as she forced one tired, aching foot in front of the other.

In any case, it was important that she reach home before nightfall. She wanted to be bathed and presentable when Rajnath returned.

 

[palabravampiress]

[Monastery "“ Guest House]

Xander knew something was wrong the instant the pulled up the guest house.

He couldn't see anything, but his hearing was still intact. And he could have heard a pin drop, everyone got so quiet and somber-like.

His nose worked, too. As soon as he unbuckled and stepped out of the car, Xander smelled blood. And it wasn't his own.

Cuz that's congealing nicely, he thought as he wiped the blood from his eye and surveyed the scene.

One body "“ Lisa "“ lay in the front. Blood had obviously spilled from her torn, disfigured gullet. Someone had gone all The Cook, the Thief, his Wife, and her Lover on her. Now, her blood was sticky. Her eyes were glassy. Her form was stiff.

:: Xander knelt and closed Lisa's eyes. ::

Oh my God didn't seem to cover it.

It was clear by the state of the body that whatever "“ or whoever "“ had done this was no longer on the scene, but Xander hoisted his axe, anyway. Made him feel less ineffectual. He liked the illusion.

The story was pretty much the same inside, only more with the gruesome horribleness. A teenage girl had been hacked to death in what looked like it had been a death match worthy of a slayer. One long, deep gash over the chest had done her in, he noticed.

:: He knelt and closed Rachel's eyes. ::

Went down fighting. Good girl, he thought.

He tried to hold back images of Anya, but there was nothing for it. Long sword-slash gashes were not forever entwined with Anya and smoke demons and all sorts of other guilty bad feelings he didn't have time for now.

For starters, the place was a mess. They could stay here "“ here in the place *I* chose, that was for sure. On top of the wreckage they'd left the slayerettes to fix, new blood and furniture were strewn everywhere. Doors and windows sat half reinforced. His own bedroom door was still off its hinges. For once, Xander didn't stop to think about the paneling. Carpentry didn't enter into his thought process at all.

He did stop to think about Emily, the remaining slayer.

Riley found her out back. Big Commando Guy came in with his arms all folded and his head all lowered.

"Crossbow," Riley said.

Lisa's crossbow, Xander, who knew these girls because he'd trained them, would have added if he'd been able to form the words.

:: Xander shook his head. ::

Not well enough, he thought. I didn't train them well enough. Giles woulda done better.

He didn't know whether he spoke the words "“ any of them "“ aloud or not.

He was profoundly sorry. And responsible. He felt that, too. In spades, he felt the weight of his responsibility. He wondered how Giles had lived with it all those years. How he still lived with it. Xander had been the new watcher, or as much of one as any of this new generation of slayers ever had. And he hadn't even been here to watch them die.

:: Xander made an incomprehensible vowel sound as he stood and turned toward the door. ::

He was trying, with the words and everything, but they just weren't coming. There weren't words for this. No jokes to whitewash the wholesale slaughter of innocents "“ well, maybe not innocents, but still, kids. Younger than Dawnie, even. No flip remarks could fix it. No somber ones, either.

:: Xander once again wiped the blood from his eye. He looked over at Dawn, who had just entered the guest house. ::

Dawn. This could have been Dawn. Dawn could have been here! he thought with sudden panic that was mixed with relief and guilt. Guilt for feeling relieved that this one girl was alive when three others were dead. Guilt for loving her more. For regretting her potential loss more than he regretted the real loss of these three slayers combined.

:: He grabbed her and hugged her tightly, just glad she was alive. ::

:: Over Dawn's head, he looked atSam and Riley. ::

Sam and Riley: "Where's Faith?"

It was a loaded question, but Xander didn't care.

 

[Slayergal]

::Sam looked around the guest house in disbelief. All 3 slayers dead. To think she had suggested that Dawn would have been safer here than with them. She was so glad now that they had taken Dawn with them instead of leaving her here. Had something happened to Dawn Buffy and Willow would hate her worse than they already did. She stood there stunned when Xander woke her from her stooper.::

Xander: "I don't know where Faith is? I haven't seen her. The other jeep is still here so she can't be far right? Maybe she went the monastary to talk to the monks?"

::Sam though was wondering the same thing. Where was Faith? They hadn't found her body so she must still be alive. Where was Faith while the slayers were under attack. More so Sam had a more unsettling feeling. Xander was beaten up and left blind. Spike taken. Now 3 slayers dead. Faith no where to be found. This wasn't the way this mission was suppose to go. They didn't have much of team left to fight with.::

 

[GATEGOD]

Indra had chosen to go back to her husband and palace. As her hair waved by and she exited the monastery Faith felt a sigh of relief wash over herself. Twice in one day had she allowed for such an accident to occur and twice in one day the monks had fixed it. Sadly they couldn't bring back the dead, and the newly tamed slayers lifeless bodies still lay on the grounds. Faith had to get back to them. She had to figure this whole mess out, she had to do something, anything.

The walk back to the guest quarters was something she didn't cherish or care to do but she had to. She couldn't leave them, not how they were. The air felt colder and the once beauty of a sky only looked like death in Faith's eyes. Scythe still in hand, blood crusting onto her clothes, and hair blowing across her face Faith wiped her eyes and closed them tightly. When she opened them she spotted the car the others had taken and quickened her pace. They too would now know of the horror that plagued her.

'Maybe they know what the f... Is going on.'

'God they best not ask me to explain.'

Faith reached the guest quarters and climbed the stairs trying not to focus on one of the girls bodies which dawned the front walk. But she couldn't help stare but stare. 'I'm sorry'

'I'm sorry'

Inside she let her hand caress the wall as she spotted the others. They looked worse off than she did. And that was saying alot. The air of death still filled the room and all who entered it's presence felt it.

"What the hell happened to you guys?" she asked before any of them could inquire as to what had transpired between her and the girls. 'The girls' She would have no answers for them. She knew they had to ask, she just hoped she wouldn't loose it infront of them.

 

[palabravampiress]

[Monastery "“ guest house]

:: Xander was still hugging Dawn when Faith trotted down the path. ::

She was bloody, but not battered. She swung the scythe almost merrily. To top it all off, she was practically combative, opining the conversation with a callous:

"What the hell happened to you guys?"

:: Xander's eye narrowed. Which is to say it closed, since the swelling had already narrowed it considerably. But still. It was a not-too-friendly look. ::

He couldn't help it. He didn't exactly trust Faith. He tried to. He really did. He even understood her a little bit "“ or thought he did. Sometimes. Most times. Heck, sometimes he even liked her. Or settled for a pretty tolerable level of annoyance. But somewhere in the back of his mind, she was always hovering above him with that wild glint in her eye and that empty smile on her face while she decided whether to rape him or choke him to death or maybe kill two birds with one stone and go for a two-fer. And he was one of her luckier victims "“ one of the ones that she probably never thought about during those boo-hoo, poor me, atonement's-so-hard pity parties she and Dead Boy liked to throw back in Tinsel Town.

But the fact was, three girls were dead, Faith was fine, and Xander wasn't entirely sure Nepal's native rogue slayer was the only one team Scooby had to worry about.

Faith: "We got attacked by a the smelly sewer version of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. It took Spike. We called and called "“ but hey! No Faith. No slayers. And this is what we found."

:: He finally let Dawn go "“ good thing, too, because breathing was becoming sort of essential "“ and gestured around at the wrecked guest house. At the dead bodies. ::

Faith: "Something tells me your story's more exciting than ours. Care to spill?"

:: Xander wobbled. ::

His head pounded. His eye hurt. He felt warm and woozy. His limbs shook "“ with adrenaline or anger or an excess of caffeine, he couldn't tell. He knew he was being hard on Faith, but he didn't care.

:: He took the now-soaked handkerchief and wiped at his eye. ::

Faith: "That could have been Dawnie."

:: Xander put his hands on his hips, sighed, and looked up toward the sky, stretching as he did so. Then, he looked around at the faces of the rest of the team as they followed that thought o its logical conclusion. ::

Group: "We gotta call Buffy."

 

[GATEGOD]

Xander's tone almost made Faith want to throw the scythe through his head, but she resisted. If spike had been taken, than it was up to her. The others looked like they were all ready to drop and none of them were going to be good in a fight. As if they were any good before they left...

Faith: “Something tells me your story’s more exciting than ours. Care to spill?”

"Not particularly. But fine. I called back here earlier just as the attack was taking place. I hit the car and headed back to help, but by the time I got here there was no one left alive. Who..whatever did this managed to leave no trace of his presence and was gone by the time I arrived. There.." she hesitated again trying to hold herself together. "There was nothing I could do."

Faith sniffled and wiped her nose, but no tears dared fall from her eyes. She walked past Xander and preceded to the adjacent wall. She didn't wish to stand against the blood soaked wallpaper, nor be able to see the girls dead bodies laying there. 'Laying there like that, soulless and gone.'

Faith: “That could have been Dawnie.”

Faith, with all that was going on, laughed. Her laugh was as cold as ice yet rang throughout the room. "Really Xander. You think?" she said sarcastically as he placed his hands at his side. "Why the hell did you think I didn't want her to come? Huh? It's never fluffy bunnies and rainbows. This is war and their are casualties. Buffy knows this. If she had been giving out the orders instead of our juiced up red head than Dawn would be at home in her comfy bed. Now would you like to reminisce about the good old times when you all went out on weekends together and slayed the occasional vamp? This can't even compare. Did you not believe me when I warned about coming. If I had my way you would be back at HQ with her."

Faith's temper had blown and she had went off on them. She didn't want to, or like it, but she couldn't help it. She hadn't even told them about Indra, nor planned on it. 'Score one for Faith, nearly killing another innocent. Yea, lets tell everybody.'

Group: “We gotta call Buffy.”

Faith's mouth nearly fell to the floor, things were bad, things were nasty, and who do you call..Buffy. 'Pack up and go home. Hell no. Whoever killed these girls is going to be dead in the next 24 hours. By my hands.'

"Why do we need to call Buffy? Is she going to fly over here on a magic carpet and save the day? We can handle this. I can handle this. If this is too much for you to digest, feel free to take yourselves back to warm sheets and delicious foods, I've got a mission to complete."

She stared around as if the others were but mere soldiers and continued. If no one else was going to reign in these cowards, than I will take care of this myself. "Where was the last place you saw it? I'll track down this sewer freak. If none of you want to accompany me, that is fine. But I'm going regardless."

'God.'

She hoped no one would contradict her, that no one would put her down, that no one would cry like a baby and call mommy. She hoped for alot. And if one of these hopes was broken she feared she would let go, give up, not care. She looked down as to not meet with anyones eyes but all she was able to focus on was blood stains that ran down most of her body.

 

[palabravampiress]

[Monastery "“ Guest House]

"Not particularly. But fine. I called back here earlier just as the attack was taking place. I hit the car and headed back to help, but by the time I got here there was no one left alive. Who..whatever did this managed to leave no trace of his presence and was gone by the time I arrived. There.." she hesitated again trying to hold herself together. "There was nothing I could do."

:: Xander frowned as he absorbed the details. ::

Faith sniffed and wiped her nose. She obviously felt as bad about this as the rest of them did.

He'd misjudged her "“ this time. That much was clear. But, hey, it wasn't like he was without his reasons. And besides, Xander wasn't about to play the let's-console-Faith game. No way, no how. Never again. When Faith was upset, Faith got violent. She got mean and prickly and violent "“ that is to say even more mean and prickly and violent than usual, and that's saying something, given her status as escaped-multiple-homicide-girl.

Which is exactly what she did "“ the mean part, not the homicide part "“ when he pointed out that Dawn could have been killed like the slayers had been.

Faith, with all that was going on, laughed. Her laugh was as cold as ice yet rang throughout the room. "Really Xander. You think?" she said sarcastically as he placed his hands at his side. "Why the hell did you think I didn't want her to come? Huh? It's never fluffy bunnies and rainbows. This is war and their are casualties. Buffy knows this. If she had been giving out the orders instead of our juiced up red head than Dawn would be at home in her comfy bed. Now would you like to reminisce about the good old times when you all went out on weekends together and slayed the occasional vamp? This can't even compare. Did you not believe me when I warned about coming. If I had my way you would be back at HQ with her."

The hissy fit reached entirely new levels of annoying when he dared to recommend that they inform Buffy that her sister was in danger. Because no way would a little thing like that get between Faith and her almighty inferiority complex. No. That was too much to ask. Nothing was about family or basic human decency; it was all about Faith, as usual. Nothing had changed. All these years later, Faith was still Faith. She was still doing the poor-little-me song and dance routine one minute and the but-I'm-a-tough-bad-ass act the next. It was Faithapalooza. Faith and her issues weren't just in the mission. As far as she was concerned, they were the mission.

And goody for us, we all get to strap in for the ride!

]"Why do we need to call Buffy? Is she going to fly over here on a magic carpet and save the day? We can handle this. I can handle this. If this is too much for you to digest, feel free to take yourselves back to warm sheets and delicious foods, I've got a mission to complete."

She stared around as if the others were but mere soldiers and continued. If no one else was going to reign in these cowards, than I will take care of this myself. "Where was the last place you saw it? I'll track down this sewer freak. If none of you want to accompany me, that is fine. But I'm going regardless."

Xander had had enough.

:: He gritted his teeth. He took a deep breath. He called on his "we like the quiet voice." ::

Faith: "You wanna talk about the old days, Faith? That's fine. Let's talk. Because it sounds like you need someone to set the record straight. We weren't out staking the occasional vamp on fun weekend slumber parties while you were baking in coma-land or cooling your heels in the clink for what? Oh yeah, murder one. No; we were slaying Gods. Gods. And evil mayor snake demons. And, Gosh, my memory's a little fuzzy on that one thanks to my shiny new *concussion,* but I think you helped to create that particular apocalypse. We even had to take down one of our own. And all that time, all that time, all the time before you showed up, and even all the time while you fought with us, me and my axe were two of about six things standing between having a world and not having one."

:: Xander tightened his grip on his axe, then he threw it down completely. He approached her. ::

Faith: "But guess what? These aren't the old days. I don't have to rush in blind with just my axe. We have backup. We have armies."

:: He pointed his finger at her. Then, he gave up on creepy calm voice and just yelled. It gave his head an even bigger ow and made him see stars, but he was on a roll now and too angry to stop. ::

Faith: "So excuse the hell out of me for not seeing things from the almighty Faith perspective! Or for wanting to stop and use those fancy shmancy new resources of ours. Or for wanting to inform Buffy that the only family she's got left is in danger. Or for wanting to approach this in any way that is not in line with your stupid, immature, Faith's-just-as-good-as-Buffy ego trip!"

:: Xander stepped back. Breathing heavily and wobbling unsteadily, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. ::

He spoke calmly again.

Faith: "Corner of Freak Street and Durbar Square. You go stroke your ego with a suicide mission if you want, but I'm callin Buffy. Because you know what? Yeah. She is better than you."

:: He dialed Buffy's number. ::

 

[GATEGOD]

[Monastary - Guest House]

Faith walked up to Xander without thought and slammed her fist into his face. She felt the hard contact as Xander fell back, slamming against the wall. "Thank you." She said with a smile watching as Xander grabbed his face. 'How dare he.'

She looked back at the others, obviously she was alone in this. And obviously they didn't approve of her methods. She shook her head as if she too didn't approve of her punching Xander, but she did. He had stupidly decided to piss her off, his loss. Maybe she didn't break anything.

She was contemplating leaving and then to go get spike, kill Dru, and pop this crap hole, but if she did that she would become an even further outcast so she stood. She was tempted to move, tempted to run, but she just froze and watched as Xander stood back up. 'What the he'll are you doing?' flashed in her mind and Faith stopped.

"Xand.. I'm.." before she could finish Xander started talking with someone on the other end. 'I am sorta sorry..'

 

[palabravampiress]

[Monastery – Guest House]

[Monastary - Guest House]

Faith walked up to Xander without thought and slammed her fist into his face and Xander fell back, slamming against the wall. "Thank you." She said with a smile.

:: Instinctively, Xander grabbed his face. ::

No, I was wrong before. *Now* there go my rugged good looks, he thought.

:: Slowly, Xander stood back up. ::

:: He spit – just blood, no teeth (thank God) – in what he hoped was Faith’s general direction, not that seeing was even at all in the realm of possibility anymore. ::

:: Xander gritted his teeth and, through the ringing in his ears and the sharp, jagged, lightning bolts of pain in his head, said: ::

Faith: “You know, the last thing that did that to me was a demon. Just food for thought.”

"Xand.. I'm.." before she could finish Xander started talking with someone on the other end.

:: Angrier than snot – you know, if snot could be angry… maybe just angrier than a really pissed off snot demon – Xander put his phone to his ear. ::

Buffy: “You know that rogue slayer we came to find? Looks like we brought one with.”