Series Title: Maltrovata al Chiar di Luna
Title: Part Four, Durerà Fino alla Morte, Death Shall Never End
Author: Ananda
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: They're not mine. The latin verse is Revelations, 7:16 and
17.
Summary: Continues the series.
Time-line: Season 4
Dedication: For Vicky because of the Cheesy Mackeral.
Note:Notes: Apologies that this has taken so long to arrive, I’m writing a
huge Buffy/Giles series and its taken over my life, also I’m in the
process of finishing my last year at uni which is also taking over!
La Primavera, l’estate,
Il fertile autunno, l’inverno rabbioso, si scambiano
Le loro livre consuete; il mondo sbalordito
Non sa più distinguere dai frutti una stagione dall’altra.
E tutta questa progenie di mali discende
Dalle nostre liti, dalle nostre discordie:
Ne siamo noi i genitori e l’origine.
The stench was appalling, a fetid smell of rot, death and decay which wormed its way into every pice of clothing, infecting hair, skin, and breath with the stink of the sewer. It crowded out the memory of every other smell until it seemed to fill the whole world and nothing was more important and more impossible than getting away from it.
The sewers beneath Sunnydale had been designed and built when the town of Sunnydale had first been built by Mayor Wilkins a hundred years ago. Since then they had rarely been cleaned out or repaired. Engineers who went down into them didn’t come out again. In true Sunnydale style they had been forgotten by a population who didn’t want to confront the demons which inhabited their town.
For the last hundred years the sewers had been the home and refuge of Sunnydale’s resident vampire population. No go areas to anyone who didn’t aspire to being vampire meals on wheels. Now they were inhabited by a monster so frightening that the rest hid in terror at the sound of her voice.
A thick, sludgy splashing noise echoed through one of the oldest and dirtiest sewer, under the university campus. A footstep sounded, followed by another and another until it sounded as though the whole sewer tunnel was being invaded by the legions of the damned. A voice cut through the noise and it became obvious that if these dread warriors were the legions of the damned then Hell was a great deal worse than anyone had ever thought.
“Yet another pair of shoes sacraficed to the Hellmouth.” Cordelia complained. “And do you think Giles will buy me a new pair of shoes to replace these?” Cordelia demanded loudly. “The sewer smell is never going to come out. And will Buffy say she’s grateful? I think not.”
“Cordelia will you shut up?” Xander growled.
Cordelia stopped dead in her tracks and turned on Xander. “Don’t you dare talk to me Xander Harris, this is all your fault, you had to suggest getting into the Initiative using the sewers.”
“They’re the best way in.” Xander answered hottly.
“They smell!”
Angel sighed. “Could you two please shut up. We’ll never get in the Inititive without them knowing if you keep bickering.”
Cordelia turned on Angel ready to annihilate him when Xander grabbed her from behind, one hand over her mouth. “Lets just get going shall we.” He suggested.
Angel turned and walked down the tunnel followed by Doyle and Oz and the bickering Xander and Cordelia. Ten minutes of squelching later they had reached the main sewage outflow pipe of the Initiative. They stared at the solid iron cover of the pipe. Any moment it would open to expell the Inititive’s sewage waste, the only undetectable, unguarded way into the Initiative was through that pipe. None of the designers had ever considered it remotely possible that anyone would want to break into the Initiative through the sewers.
The pipe opened, two tons of sewage gushed through the three foot opening and hit the floor of the sewer. The smell was horrendous.
“You do realise that Sunnydale is going to suffer a drought after this.” Cordelia announced.
Doyle frowned. “Why?” He asked
“Because of all the baths I’m going to have to take to get this crud out of my hair. Why did I have to come anyway.” She complained.
“Because Willow and Wesley had to stay behind as a contingency plan and we needed an extra person.” Xander said.
Gradually the flow of sewage from the tunnel slowed until only a sludgy residue of unidentifiable sediment was left. It moved slightly in the faint light of the torches. Angel stared at it without enthusiasm. “Alright.” He finally said, “Everyone into the tunnel.”
They came out eventually under the grill from the showers in the officers wash room. The room was empty.
Everyone breathed deeply as Cordy rushed for the wash basin. Xander breathed out.
“I think my synapses have disolved.” He moaned and rested his head in his hands as the room began to fill up with the stench of the sewer again.
“Ok.” Doyle locked the washroom door. “Lets get this overwith, and then we can all go take a shower, right?”
The five moved to stand in a circle in the centre of the room. The ritual, designed to lock onto Buffy’s magical signature as the Slayer and lead them to her, required five people to speak it. Hence Cordelia’s unwilling presence.
“Non esurient neque sitient amplius,”
“Neque cadet super illos. Sol neque ullus aestus-”
“Quoniam agnus qui in medio throni est reget illos-”
“Et deducet eos ad vitae fontes aquarum-”
“Et absterget Deus omnem lacrimam ex oculis eorum.”
Taking one line each the group chanted over and over again until the room began to darken and a grey lighted glowed in the space between them. The group turned to Cordelia, she was the only one of the who could hold the light, the only one with nothing supernatural in her at all. No vampire, demon, werewolf or possesed soldier could have touched the light which would lead them to Buffy.
The grey light glowed gently against the green tiles of the washroom, gradually little, by little the light directed itself towards the door, the group followed Cordelia as she walked towards the door. As she went out the light turned to the left, shining in a thin stream in the direction of the containment cells. Cordelia shielded the light gently and walked forward, following it. Angel and Xander passed quietly in front of her checking each door and corridor as they passed it. They met no one.
Eventually they came to the containment cells, walking past the empty cells towards the cell holding Buffy, Giles and Spike. As they reached the cell the light glowed brighter until it went out with a small thunderclap which woke Giles up.
“Shush!” Xander said accusingly to Cordelia.
She glared at him. “Shut up.” Angel, ignoring their bickering, strode forward to the front of the cell.
“Buffy.” He said quietly. She smiled up at him.
“Nice to see you Angel, guys. You took your time, any longer and you’d only have had two people to rescue.” She glared at Spike who shrugged his shoulders.
Angel frowned. “I’m lost. I thought you two were…?” He trailed off unable to finish.
“Thought we were what?” Buffy demanded. Angel gazed down at her for a minute and gave up.
“Nothing.” he muttered.
“Good.”
Giles sighed. “Edifying as I find your love life Buffy, do you think we could discuss it when we get home? Prison cells make me nervous,” He added pointedly.
“Right.” Xander agreed. “Sorry Giles.” He stepped forward and pulled Willow’s charm out of his pocket. He sprinkled the powder over the cell door and, stumbling slightly over the words, he recited.
“Digitus Dei est induratumque, Effusus es sicut acqua, Intrate per angustum porfam quia lata porta et spatiosa via, Et effugi ego solus.”
The plexiglass front of the cell started to ripple as he spoke, then it shattered. The pieces floated for a moment and fell to the floor. Buffy and Giles moved quickly out of the cell, followed more slowly by Spike. They turned to leave.
“That’s it,” Doyle muttered, “We’re going to get away with this.” They made their way quickly back to the washroom. He opened the door and they piled into the room to find themselves confronted by Maggie Walsh, Riley Finn and five commandoes.
“Riley?” Buffy stood and stared at him. “What are you doing here?” She demanded. Spike glanced at her.
“Oh, please tell me you’re not that dumb Slayer.”
Riley frowned at the screen. “The hostile who calls himself Spike is obviously the vampire who thinks he has a soul.” He said nastily.
Graham nodded. “Yeah, they’ve got that whole sexual tension thing going.” He agreed.
Riley glare at him murderously. “But I thought you said he’d left?” Prof. Walsh nodded slowly, “That’s correct but I think we have to assume he came back. The rest?”
“He mentioned witches, the dark haired boy and girl?” Forrest suggested. He indicated Xander and Cordelia on the screen. “I know witchcraft isn’t scientifically provable, but they did have some very cool special effects going on.”
“Fine.” Maggie Walsh agreed. “Spike also mentioned a wolf, a soldier, a former demon and a spoiled princess. He didn’t sound too certain about the last one.”
“Tall, dark and depressed could be the soldier.” Graham suggested as he looked at Angel.
“Great.” Riley said. “So we have a wolf, a former demon and a princess left and three men to fit them to. Something is wrong somewhere.”
Forrest turned to him. “Have you checked Buffy’s file from the university yet? She went to high school here as well, can you get access to her file from there?”
Maggie Walsh nodded as Graham slid into the seat in front of the computer and called up the file. “Ok, the school was destroyed but the records still exist in the City Hall Archives. Here we go. Buffy Anne Summers, graduated class of 1999, average grade point and a whole screen full of violent incidents, fights, odd occurances, and inciting mayhem and violence."
“She had a lot of problems. She was expelled during the finals of her junior year suspected of murder and assault, she was also questioned twice more by the police for similer charges, in her junior and senior years. All the charges were later dropped and she was allowed back into school. She was voted “School Protector” and her only activity was the Crime Club, she did audition as a cheerleader though and she was a candidate for prom queen. She was also in the talent show with Alexander Harris and Willow Rosenberg,” He shrugged.
“Look them up.” Forrest suggested.
“Right, a match. Alexander Lavelle Harris. Below average student but did graduate class of ’99. Only activity was Crime Club although he was in the Swim Team for a semester, until the team folded due to the death of the coach and the four top swimmers. One steady girlfriend in his junior and senior year, Cordelia Chase. Suffered a broken arm during the finals of his junior year, same date as Ms Summer’s murder charge.” He stared consideringly at the computer screen. “ Is it usual school records to include friendships and girlfriends?”
“Maybe we just got lucky.” Graham said.
“Check the girlfriend.” Riley instructed.
“Ok.” He looked at her picture. “Well, she’s familiar. Graduated in the same class, above average grade point, all round Miss Popular apparantly, cheerleader, winner of the talent show, voted most likey to marry a millionaire. During her senior year she took two weeks off school for medical reasons…she fell theough some collapsed stairs at a deserted factory and was impaled on a metal spike. Dated a lot, one serious boyfriend, Alexander Harris.”
“Willow Rosenberg?” Prof. Walsh asked.
“Ok, she’s definitely not in the cell, but I think she rooms with Buffy, I’ve seen them together. Graduated class of 1999, second highest student. Very bright. Taught computer class after the teacher was…murdered. Interesting school they went to. Also a member of the crime club. Voted most likely to join Microsoft, in fact she was selected but decided to finish high school instead. Suffered from a concusion and was in a coma for a few hoursduring the finals of her junior year. Same time as Harris’ broken arm and Ms Summers murder charge. Suspected of witchcraft during the senior year witch hunt, one steady boyfriend Daniel Osbourne. Activites were Computer, Science and Crime Clubs. Witch hunt?” He demanded.
“Never mind. Check on Daniel Osbourne.” Riley said.
“He’s here. Odd that she’s not. Graduated class of 1999, after repeating senoir year. Highest scoring SAT results never to graduate. Lead guitar of the band Dingoes Ate My Baby. That’s about all, used to be in the school jazz band until he quit. Member of the crime club. Steady girlfriend Willow Rosenberg.”
“Ok, they’re just one happy family aren’t they. But we’re still missing the rest. Can you look up the Crime club, they were all members?” Forrest asked.
“Right. Sunnydale High Crime Club, founder members Buffy Summers, Xander Harris and Willow Rosenberg. Later editions of Cordelia Chase, Daniel Osbourne. The club was supervised by Rupert Giles and Jennifer Calender. There’s a picture. That’s him, Rupert Giles, he’s here, Rosenberg and Calender aren’t.”
“Look him up.” Forrest said.
“Rupert Giles, librarian until the school exploded during the 1999 graduation ceremony. Supervisor of the talent show and the crime club. He’s British. Suffered major injuries at the same time as the others did. The other teacher was Jennifer Calender right? Ok, former computer science teacher, now deceased. She was murdered a couple of months before the junior year finals and the body was left in Rupert Giles’ bed. He was never suspected of murder though. Her neck was broken in one blow. Her murderer was never found.”
“That it? That means we have two people unaccounted for. Who are the tall depressed looking guy and the one who speaks with an Irish accent?” Riley asked.
“I can keep looking but…it may take hours. I think we should start interrogating them.” Graham replied.
“I agree.” Riley nodded. “Are we interrogating them separately or all together?”
“I think together.” Prof. Walsh said. “They don’t look as though they have very much control, we may get more out of them as a group.”
“How long do you think we’ll be here?” Cordelia asked.
Doyle shrugged. “They’re probably listening to everything we’re saying. I don’t think we should discuss it.”
Buffy glanced back from her place at the cell glass. “Here they come.” She announced.
Professor Walsh seated herself on the chair outside the cell and smiled slightly at the people within it. “I have some questions.” She said. “I suggest you answer them.”
“Or what?” Buffy demanded.
“There is no “or what”.” Prof. Walsh replied. “If you answer our questions we will release some of you. If you don’t, we won’t release any of you.”
Buffy glared at her. “You’re only going to release some of us!”
“That is correct. Neither yourself, nor the vampire, will be leaving in the near future. We have some tests.”
“You want to test me? What for?”
Prof. Walsh hesitated. Then, apparantly, decided that she had nothing to lose. “You are not human, however much you may believe you are. However we have never seen anything like you so…”
Buffy interupted her. “I’m a hell of a lot more human than you!”
Giles shook his head gently. “No Buffy, you’re not.”
She turned towards him horrified. “What?”
Giles sighed gently. “The Slayer was never completely human. She is something else. Humanity is like a sliding scale. Homo Sapiens are at the centre, vampires are further down the scale, demons even further towards pure evil. The First is right at the bottom. In the other direction it’s more difficult to catogarise.” He smiled at her.
“The Slayer is further up than homo sapiens. You are stronger, faster, more intelligent and intuitive. However much you don’t show it. What follows after you, further up the scale I don’t know. Some people would say it was God, the Oracles, the Powers that Be, some kind of higher power. I don’t know. All I know is that you are not human, for all your humanity.”
Buffy froze as Giles spoke. She took a step back, away from the rest of the group, her face twisting with pain. “Not human?” She whispered.
Spike put a hand on her arm and grimaced as she turned towards him tears streaming down her face.
Prof. Walsh watched dispassionedly. “Since it has been established that Ms. Summers is not human, we now come to the question of what is she?”
Giles glared at her, and returned his attention to his Slayer as she huddled in Spike’s arms. After a moments consideration, he decided they had nothing to lose by telling the truth. Prof. Walsh already knew Buffy was different, the truth might be the only way to save her from the tests. “She is the Slayer.” He replied. “One girl in all the world, a chosen one. Born to fight vampires.” Professor Walsh nodded. “Yes, I understand that, but if she is not human, what species of hostile is she?” Giles sighed as though she were being unbearably tiresome. Cordelia answered. “Buffy isn’t hostile. She saves people.” “So you say Miss Chase.” Cordelia paled at the sound of her name. “But then you’re a witch so I’m not sure I trust you any more than I do her.” There was a chuckling sound and Buffy pulled her head away from Spike’s shoulder. Her eye’s were bright with tears and her laughter forced and hysterical sounding but she had succeeded in pulling herself together. “You think Cordy’s a witch?” She asked incredulously. “Wow, you should join Sunnydale’s police force, you’re bang on the nail there.” She laughed again, more naturally, and the tension within the cell dropped. Prof. Walsh frowned, clearly she had made a tactical error somewhere. “What other amazing conclusions have you come to?” Xander asked with a grin. “Evidence suggests that you are also a witch.” Walsh said. Xander laughed. She pointed to Spike. “Well, can any of you deny that he is a vampire?” “Why should we want to deny it?” Xander said. “Deadboy junior over there is as much part of the team as us witches.” He broke down into laughter again. “A vampire with a soul!” Walsh added triumphantly. Angel raised his head from his study of the floor and stared at her with shocked incomprehension. “You think he has a soul?” He demanded. Xander howled with laughter. Cordy backhanded him across the chest and he winced, gulped and calmed down. “Sorry,” He muttered, “but you have to admit, she is too dumb for words.” Riley pushed past his commander. “So if he doesn’t have a soul.” He said unpleasantly, “He’s just another hostile and of no use to us.” He raised his blaster and pointed it at Spike. The inhabitants of the cell went quiet as Buffy stood in front of Spike. “Kill him and you go through me.” Buffy said calmly. Riley glared at her, but lowered his gun. “Buffy, get out of my way.” She shook her head. “You’d chose that bloodsucker over me?” Buffy stared at him for a moment. “God Riley, get over yourself. At this moment I’d choose Hanibal Lector over you.” Riley raised his gun at this but watched in incomprehension and Xander came to stand in front of Buffy, Cordelia next to him and Oz in the other side. “Threaten one of us, and you threaten us all.” Xander said, his voice for once serious. Professor Walsh decided it was time to intervene. “Agent Finn, stand down.” Riley didn’t move. “I said stand down.” He reluctantly lowered his gun still glaring at Spike. Buffy hugged Xander. “Thanks Xand.” she said, and turned to Oz and Cordelia. “You guys too.” Cordelia shrugged. “Hey, at least this one won’t turn bad and kill us all. He already is bad.” She thought about what she’d said. “Actually, that’s not much of an improvment. You really need to adjust your taste in men.” She looked Buffy up and down. “And clothes. I mean, that top is so last year. Saturday? Mall trip.” She added with a smile. Buffy grinned back. “Cool.” “Do you mind?” Porf. Walsh said acidly. “Not really no.” Oz replied. “This is a serious government investigation, not a diary planning session.” Cordelia sighed dramatically. “Fine, but get on with it.”
Proffessor Walsh stared down at her notes trying to compose herself. “Good, let’s start with you.”She pointed at Cordy. “What are you.”
“She’s a homecoming queen.” Buffy said. Cordy glared at her.
“I never won remember. Thanks to you splintering my vote.”
“Well, I never won either.” Buffy replied.
“When did you run for homecoming queen?” Spike asked.
“Senior year.” Buffy said. “And in case you’ve forgotten I’m not speaking to you.” Spike growled.
“Oh come on, Slayer. It must be obvious I fed the stupid bint a fairy story.”
“Yes, but it was my fairy story.” She objected.
“Well, I’m sorry, but do you have any idea how bloody boring it was around her without you.” Buffy glared at him but she couldn’t stop the smile and kissed him gently. Behind Professor Walsh, Riley choked with rage, and a growl rumbled round the cell.
Buffy pulled back and stared at Angel who had the grace to look slightly embarrased. “Sorry,” He said sheepishly. He advanced on Spike who looked slightly worried. “Hurt her, and I’ll rip your spine out and make you eat it.” Angel said threateningly. Spike glared up at him consideringly for a moment, then bowed his head. “Fine.” He said mutinously.
“Spike.” The tone was low but brooked no disobediance.
Spike’s eyes shot to Angel’s face, and he smiled one geniune heartfelt smile before returning to his usual impassive, faintly mocking mask. “I bow before my sire’s wishes.” He said ironically.
“Good.” Angel deliberatley turned his back and returned to the other side of the cell.
“His sire?” Professor Walsh asked.
“Well, duh!” Cordy supplied the obvious answer.
“You are Angelus?” Walsh said. Angel nodded.
“I’m the one with the soul.” He added.
Professor Walsh looked confused. “If he’s the one with the soul.” She said to Spike. “Then who are you?” Spike looked bored. “Fine. She’s the Slayer.” He said pointing at Buffy, “She’s the spoiled princess.” Cordelia who uttered a faint “Hey” of protest. “Xander’s the soldier, Giles is the Watcher, Oz is a werewolf, and I’m the mortal enemy.”
Professor Walsh nodded and indicated Doyle. “And him?” She asked.
Spike shrugged, “Not a bloody clue.” He said simply.
Doyle blushed faintly, “Name’s Doyle. I work with Angel.”
He was clearly leaving something out but Walsh didn’t press it. None of these people were going to be leaving anytime soon. They were far too interesting. She glanced down at her notes again. “Where is the witch?” She asked. “You mentioned a witch.”
Suddely the lighting above her exploded, showering glass and plastic on the soldiers underneath and plunging the complex into darkness. With a loud shriek of distressed metal the doors of all the cell blew open and its inhabitants sprung out.
“That would be her now,” Xander answered Walsh’s question as he ran forward out of the cell.
He came face to face with Riley’s blaster and ducked as the incensed soldier fired at him. The electricity earthed itself harmlessly into the floor behind Xander who came up fists flying and managed to get in one good punch before Riley’s increased strength bore him back against the containment area’s wall. Riley grabbed him by the throat, but Angel took hold of the back of his clothing and lifted him up until he was dangling off the floor. Riley flailed about, but Angel held firm as Xander raised his fist and crashed one, very satisfying, blow to Riley’s left temple. He collapsed to the ground unconscious. Angel and Xander exchnaged a faintly approving glance and turned to find their way barred by two more commandos. They attacked.
Meanwhile, Buffy and Spike had squared up to the other commandos who raised their weapons. Buffy rushed forward befor they could fire and grappled with one, punching him so hard he stumbled to the floor, blood pouring from his nose. He got and charged at her with a yell. Before he could reach her Giles streched out a long leg and tripped him. He hit the concrete floor with a sickening thud and lay still.
Then Spike circled the two remaining commando’s, one had lost his weapon in the scuffle of Buffy’s attack, but the other only needed an opening to fire. At present Spike had the advantage because he could see better in the half light of the emergency lights than the commandos, but that advantage wouldn’t last for long. He growled, hoping to unerve them enough to make them falter but instead the commando with a weapon swung it towards him and fired.
He felt the bolts of electricity sap the strength from his muscles and sank to the floor.
“Spike!” Buffy’s agonised shout cut across the noise of the battle. She was stuck across the other side of the room and couldn’t get to him as she watched him fall.
Professor Walsh, largely ignored because she couldn’t fight, hurried up to him and drawing a gun pointed it a Spike. “Stop!” She ordered.
There was one frozen moment of complete stillness before Cordelia, who was standing behind her, picked up the chair the profeesor had been sitting on, and hit over the head with it. Professor Walsh collapsed, and Cordy grabbed Spike by one stiff arm. The two commandos he’d been fighting rushed at her, but Oz had grabbed the discarded blaster and fired it at them. He missed, but they ground to a halt, and he covered them.
“Time to leave.” He said. Buffy kicked the commando stuggling with Xander out the way and grabbed him. He had a deep cut over one eye and his tee-shirt had a huge rip up one side but he was almost jumping with adrenalin. Angel pushed his commando away, he hit the wall with a thud, and followed them through the melée stopping only to pick up a blaster and point it at the man he’d been fighting, who froze. Giles ran his opponent into the concrete wall of the containment area and assisted Doyle with his. The half demon had brought his other face to the fore but beneath the blue spikes Doyle was smiling as he pounded on the commando.
“Let’s go!” Cordelia shouted.
Behind her Riley groaned, but a swift kick from her expensive Italian shoes caused him to groan and fall into unconsciouness again. She reliqueshed her hold on Spike’s arm to Doyle and Xander took the other side and dragging the vampire behind them the friends made for the corridor to the washroom and the relative safety of the sewers.
The Spring, the summer,
The chiding autumn,angry winter, change
Their wonted liveries: and the mazed world
By their increase, knows not which is which.
And this same progeny of evils comes
From our debate, from our dissension;
We are their parents and original.