Something New
Chapter 12
Something New
Chapter 12
Spike worked off 48 more dollars in a few more nights, and managed to only get yelled at once, and avoid Xander at all costs.
Until Friday night.
�Spike, why isn�t Buffy here?� Willow asked. �Is she sick?�
�Yeah, sort of.� Spike agreed. �Look, is there anything to discuss or can I just kill things and go home?�
�We were planning on discussing the Initiative with Buffy.� Giles said. �But now that you�re here, perhaps you could show us the exact location, or recall anything at all useful. Such as an identity of a capturer?�
�No. No way. I�m not bloody going back, and I don�t have to.� Spike refused, turning to leave.
�Wait,� willow walked after Spike, standing in front of him. �We�re not making you go into the belly of the beast.�
�Well you bloody well are!� Spike sighed. �Look, Willow, I love you. You�re beautiful, and I owe you my life, and you�re perfect, and all of that, but I�m not going back there. Have you ever seen and heard a thousand caged demons screaming and snarling in pain and terror and flinging themselves onto electric blast walls?�
�Spike,� Willow said. �If you can give us even one of the capture�s faces, or names, we can hunt him down and beat the crap out of him until he confesses.�
Spike�s lips twitched. �That�s very tempting, believe me, but I don�t remember anything. You�re wasting your time.�
�I�m sorry, then.� Willow frowned, stepping aside to let Spike go.
*****
�Killed five vamps tonight.� Spike reported to Buffy when he got back.
�Good. You�re down to just $79 now. Maybe now I should lower vampires to worth one dollar and demons two.� Buffy looked at Spike. �What�s the matter? You didn�t yell or protest or anything. Is it too much work?�
�Your friends keep wanting me to talk about the Initiative.�
�Oh.� Buffy frowned after Spike, who went to heat up a mug of blood. �Why don�t you just tell them and get it done with, then?�
�I don�t remember anything.� Spike said. �Just� waking up in that place. There were some people, doctors that�d walk through the corridor, looking through the glass at all the specimen � me, others � but I wasn�t lucid then. You couldn�t even dig to get to whatever, wherever, however I got out. And I don�t think you could storm that place. Government has guns. Big guns with big bullets and things that explode, and even you could end up in one of those glass cages.�
�Everything used to be simple. Kill anything that wasn�t human. Now I have to only kill vampires and demons that are doing bad things, or trying to kill me or someone else, and now the government is getting involved and just torturing everything that they can touch and test.� Buffy looked disgusted. �When I find one of these soldiers, I�m gonna find out who wants you dead, and make sure that I take them all out.�
�Can�t do that, love, they�re human.� Spike said bitterly.
�I don�t think that.� Buffy said angrily, getting up. �Someone hurt you and violated you and kept you for a week, and I�m gonna kill them, because now they�re no better than demons, and I won�t let you because you have Jamie.�
Spike rushed over, catching her from leaving the house. �No, Buffy, let�s stop this before you do something that you�ll regret.�
�They need to die.� Buffy persisted angrily. �They can�t just cut into demons, no matter if they�re evil or just citizens of a different race.�
�You can�t kill a human, luv.� Spike said, pushing her back away from the door. �You�re human. I won�t let you have a lifetime of self hatred and grief for taking lives. You�re not like that.�
�Neither are you.� Buffy said. �And I won�t regret a thing when they no longer exist.� She tried to go to the door again, frustrated when Spike wouldn�t le her cross. �Let go of me, Spike.� She ordered, annoyed and fighting him now. �Let go!� She punched him in the head, and then realized what she�d done when Spike grimaced in pain. �I�m sorry.� Buffy winced, backing off. �I didn�t mean to do that.�
�It�s fine, Buffy.� Spike touched his aching head. �Just calm down.�
Buffy took a few deep breaths. �Okay. I�ll just go and beat the guy to an inch of his life.�
�No!� Spike grabbed her again, and held her back as Buffy angrily kicked and yelled to be released.
�What�s going on? Stop it.� Joyce ordered. �Let her go!�
Spike stumbled and released Buffy, causing her to fall, then quickly stepped back to lock the door.
�That�s not gonna help, Spike.� Buffy said, getting up again.
�I�m fine, Slayer, you just shouldn�t be angry like this about something so stupid.� Spike said. �You can�t fight a trained marine or whatever without getting a good tussle back.�
�I�m the Slayer, I�ve saved the world.� Buffy said. �I think I can take on a guy in a ninja costume.�
�What�s going on?� Joyce asked.
�Slayer wants to go kill the people at the Initiative.� Spike said.
Buffy glowered at Spike. �You�re such a tattletale.�
�Buffy? You can�t kill anyone.� Joyce said firmly.
�But they�ve hurt Spike, and they�re trying to do my job, but they�re doing it wrong!� Buffy yelled.
�And pray tell, what is your job, Slayer?�
�I�m the Chosen One. I protect the innocent from demons and evils.� Buffy said.
�And humans are all friggin� innocent no matter how screwed up they are.� Spike retorted, angry that he couldn�t let her go massacre them all, and walked away before he got punched again for trying to do the right thing.
�Honey, are you okay?� Joyce asked.
Buffy looked at the basement door in confusion, trying to get how Spike could have held her back from trying to go kill his attackers. He was the victim. He was supposed to encourage her and help her with the task. �He forgot his blood.�
�William is right, Buffy, you can�t kill a human.� Joyce said. �You�re a Slayer, not a cop. You don�t kill muggers.�
�But the Initiative is so corrupted.� Buffy protested. �I hate them so much.�
�I don�t think you can hate them anymore than William.� Joyce said. �Now promise me you�ll never think about hurting another human being again.�
�Sometimes I like to fantasize about killing Dawn.�
�Just don�t.� Joyce pleaded. �Don�t kill anyone, no matter how badly you want to, and only in self defense, if there were no option. If the Initiative ever came after one of you-�
�Then wild horses couldn�t stop me.� Buffy said. �They will never get me or Jamie or Dawn or Spike. And especially not you or any of my friends.�
�Good. Try to be true to your calling.� Joyce said. �If you have to be a Slayer, I don�t want you to get hurt, or be upset by anything like this.�
�I�m sorry.� Buffy hugged her mother. �I think I�m just going to take a bath.�
�That�s a good idea.� Joyce nodded. �Try to calm down.�
Buffy went upstairs into her room, where her son was asleep. She kissed him and gathered up her clothes, going into the bathroom and running a hot bath that she sunk into and tried to soak away her anger and frustration. An hour later Dawn finally complained her out of the bathroom and Buffy got out, changing her clothes.
�You should really go to bed.� Buffy said as she passed Dawn.
�It�s Friday night, and I only have to go to the bathroom.� Dawn objected, shutting the door and Buffy shook her head, going downstairs.
Joyce had assumedly gone to bed, so the blonde helped herself to some yogurt in the dining room, trying to scoop through the strawberry to find her answers, but eventually she reached the bottom.
Buffy sighed, and decided the yogurt had spoken. Spike was undoubtedly nursing his head downstairs and cursing her name. She threw away the useless yogurt container and opened the door to go down cellar. It was cooler than upstairs, and she was glad this was only in winter, or she�d feel guilty about having a vampire live down here for a long time.
Through the darkness, Buffy could see she was totally wrong. Her punch had only slightly bruised, but Spike was asleep in the bed, which seemed way too large for just one person.
She waited a few moments, tempted to walk over to him, but then Spike rolled over in his sleep, as if trying to get comfortable, his eyes squeezed shut.
Buffy took a breath, waiting to see if Spike was asleep, then took a step to approach him�
And quickly went back upstairs.
*****
Riley quickly checked his hair, then jogged down the hall and shifted his backpack. �Buffy, hi.�
�Oh. Hi Riley.�
�I was wondering about you. We haven�t really hung out much. I was beginning to worry.�
�Yeah, I just had to do things.� Buffy lied. �It�s been hectic, really. My sister is a pain, and there�s so much to do around the house.
�So you�re not living on campus, then?�
�Oh. No. Not really.� Buffy said. �My mom�s just needed some extra help lately.�
�Is she okay?� Riley frowned.
�Yeah. She just has a job, so the jobless ones like me have to watch my sister.� Buffy replied. �But, uh, don�t worry. I�ve only been late to class once, and I made up all of the work pretty quick.�
�Well that�s good.� Riley said. �Now I was wondering if maybe we can hang out at your place. And study.�
�Uh, sorry, no.� Buffy said. �I can�t. My mom would automatically assume, and my sister is just such a pest, and Sp- space is really limited.�
�Okay, then, maybe at the bronze, or your dorm.� Riley said. �Buffy, I can�t help but think that you keep blowing me off.�
�What would make you think that?�
�Maybe because every time I talk to you, you keep making excuses not to see me.�
�Sorry. I just have so much to do.� Buffy said. �You know, classes are rough.�
�Yeah, they can be.� Riley agreed. �So when can you go out with me again?�
�Uh, I don�t know.� Buffy said. �But I�ll let you know. I have to find Willow, actually.�
�Oh. I haven�t seen her.�
�Thanks.� Buffy said. �I�ll go see if I can find her before next class. I�ll see you.�
�You, too.� Riley frowned when Buffy left without kissing him goodbye, and a hand went onto his shoulder.
�Man, I�m telling ya, that chick that issues.�
�Forrest, Buffy is special.� Riley defended. �And I�m sure that she�s just going through a rough patch in her life. Her mom must be having problems. A single mom taking care of her young daughter.�
�Whatever you say, man.� Forrest shook his head. �I still think that girl is trouble.�
�Well that�s your opinion.�
�Professor Walsh needs us tonight.� Gram told Riley and Forrest. �At sundown we�re to report to her.�
�Alright.� Riley said. �I�d better get to class.�
�Any idea what we�re being called in for?� Forrest asked.
�That�s confidential.�
*****
�Gentlemen.� Professor Walsh greeted. �Suit up, and grab your weapons. You�re needed on an assignment.�
�Yes ma�am.� Riley, Forrest and Gram quickly put on their weapon�s belt and selected stun guns, tears gas, pistols and other weapons.
�Finn, you�re to go to section eighteen. Gram, section 24. Forrest, section 21.� Walsh ordered. �We lost the signal from the K�fulir demons we had tagged to be monitored a week ago.�
�K�fulir demons?� Riley echoed as Gram and Forrest reached for a stronger weapon. �It took us forever just to tag it. They appear to be grazers, but with all due respects, they�d be impossible to slaughter.�
�Not by another demon, agent Finn.� Walsh informed. �One strong, and probably more aggressive. The K�fulir demons were either killed, or they need to be re-tagged. You�ll have teams, of course. They�ve been debriefed, but right now I need you to survey the area. Don�t risk yourselves. K�fulir demons, as you well know, damage property and will charge if they feel threatened.�
�Man, these things are like buffalos on steroids.� Forrest complained as he charged his stun gun.
�Perhaps a bit bigger.� Walsh agreed. �Now you�re not to put yourself at risk, or any civilians. If you do find a K�fulir, radio it in, and keep your distance.�
�Yes ma�am.�
�Good. Now move out. Report back every fifteen minutes.�
*****
Gram walked through section 24, a cemetery surrounded by wooded area. No doubt that even if he didn�t find the K�fulir demon, he�d run into some other creepy animal. He kept to the shadows and behind tombstones, covering the area. He didn�t care to walk right through the cemetery and be pounced on by various hungry devils.
�I told you nothing�s here.�
Gram looked up to see a guy escorting a young girl with brown hair through the cemetery. He was blonde, probably fifteen, and they were both wearing black. Typical.
She spun slowly, looking around the cemetery, and up to the stars, then smiled at him. �It�s beautiful here. But I just get so afraid, with so many people dying in these places.�
�Are you kidding? We�re the threat.� He scoffed.
�Just because everyone thinks I�m a witch doesn�t make me evil.�
�Course not, babe, I�m just saying that all of the mortals are pathetic. They don�t understand anything. They�re all sheep, following the flock when one stupid goat fears something. But you know what we are? We�re wolves. We�re better than them.� They kissed, and she entwined her fingers with his.
�Do you wanna go back to my place? It�s kinda cold here.�
�Sure.� He agreed. �I think that we�ll disrupt he spirits if we stay here more than welcomed.�
�Yes.� She nodded. �And we don�t want that.�
He looked over near Gram�s hiding place. �There are things here. Let�s go get you warm.� He wrapped an arm around her, and they left, leaving Gram a little weirded out.
�Something smells funny.� The girl commented as they left.
�Agent Gram?� His radio buzzed. �Are you injured? Over.�
He half-startled, remembering he was a minute overdue on radioing in. �No, I�m fine. There were some Goths here, but they�ve cleared out. Over.�
�Did you compromise your operation? Over.�
�No, I hid until they left. Over.�
�Good. Any sighting of those demons, soldier? Over.�
�No. None yet. Over.�
�Alright. Forrest is wrapping it up. Over and out.�
Gram walked further down the cemetery to survey the rest of the area, but there were no K�fulir demons or demons of any other species. He turned to leave, heading back to the entrance of the cemetery, when he suddenly smelled something that stunk really bad. An awful, putrid smell that increased as he neared it�s source. He gagged once and resolved to covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief, readying his weapon. Gram investigated further, and when his eyes adjusted more to the shadows, he saw it, and went back several feet to gag again, then picked up his radio.
�HQ?�
�Yes. Agent Gram? Over.�
�I think I found one of the K�fulir. Over.�
�Where are you? Keep your distance. Over.�
�Oh, I think I�ll keep my distance. I�m at the east side of section 24. There�s a K�fulir demon that�s decaying over here. Looks like it�s been dragged into the woods by something big. Possibly a pack of wild animals, werewolves or some sort of sub-terrestrial. It also looks like something�s been eating it. I can�t tell the cause of death, but it could have also been killed by some sort of werewolf or hungry animal. Over.�
�Copy that. Can you further examine the body? Over.�
�Man, this thing stinks.� Gram covered his nose again, stepping closer to the body. �There are bite marks, but I don�t know teeth impressions well. You�ll learn more from an autopsy. Over.�
�We�ll send a team to recover the carcass. Over.�
�Shit!� Gram jumped back, raising his weapon again. �This things been nested in. I can see maggots, and they�re not from flies. They�re approximately a foot long, florescent green and carnivorous. There are a dozen I can see, probably a lot more. Over.�
�Okay, keep your distance, soldier. There�s no telling what species they may be. We�ll send in a team to retrieve it. Can you flush out the larvae? Over.�
�I don�t think so. All I have is my gun. Over.�
�Research will want the larvae in tact. We�ll send in a team with poison tonight. Over and out.�
�Okay, I�m gonna clear out. Make sure they have masks, cause this thing reeks. Over and out.�
Gram moved further away from the body and had to keep walking until the air held no trace of decomposing K�fulir flesh. He breathed deeply and decided he wasn�t needed to stick around, heading out of the cemetery and down the street. He still felt sick from seeing that corpse, and the night air was much better.
He turned a corner, and the opposite of the street had a group of teenagers walking, none of them even noticing him, and he thanked short attention spans. The night was relatively quiet, at least no one was at this part of town. They were probably all at the Bronze, but seeing as it was only Monday, the partygoers probably weren�t out tonight anyway. Just as well that they weren�t when a team was due to retrieve a big, smelly corpse. He really had to get a girlfriend instead of doing these sort of things. It�s not like he wasn�t desirable.
�Agent Gram? What�s your position? Over.�
�I�m on Burmont street,� Gram replied. �Over.�
�You�re supposed to stay with the area of the carcass to keep civilians out. Over.�
Gram sighed, not really thinking that anyone would go into a cemetery at this time of night and try to steal the body. �Yes, sir. Over and out.�
�Recovery squad will be on location in approximately eight minutes. Over and out.�
Gram sighed and started back to the cemetery, promising himself he would have to stand right next to the gagging smell. As if K�fulir demons didn�t smell bad enough when they were alive.
�HUMPH!�
�Oi, watch it!�
Spike realized his mistake as he was slammed to the side by the surprisingly strong young man, falling down onto the ground. He looked over Gram�s dark green uniform, and the soldier pulled out a gun, which he charged. �You�re trespassing on a government secured area. I must ask to leave now. If you refuse, you will be persecuted.�
Spike backed up as well as he could, getting up to his feet, when Gram noticed. �Hostile 17?�
�Oh� shit.� Spike didn�t wait, quickly fleeing with speed that only a vampire could achieve.
�HQ this is agent Gram. I�ve spotted fugitive Hostile 17. He�s headed west on Burmont street, section 24. Over�
�Follow pursuit. We�ll send a team in. Can you capture him? Over.�
�Confirmed.� Gram said, securing his thermal lens. �Pursuing Hostile 17. Over.� He swiftly headed out, well aware of the fact that the hostile could outrun him, if it was desperate enough. He headed down the street again, and having to keep to code, swept into the nearby secluded areas to avoid being spotted by civilians. When he exited the thicket, it appeared that the Hostile had managed to make its escape. He put his stun gun into his holster and crossed the street, looking for signs of where a vampire had disappeared to � startled crowds, broken things, disheveled brushes � suddenly his clue clunked under foot, and he stepped back. �HQ, check security monitors for section 24. I want to know of any large sewer movement occurring in the last minute.�
�Yes, soldier, large sub-terrestrial, just a moment ago, room temperature. Headed south in the main line. Over.�
Gram bent down and cautiously removed the man-hole covering, finding the shaft downwards clear. He descended the ladder, then dropped down with a splash, immediately turning to check for hostiles. His nose soured with smells of the sewers. He couldn�t imagine filthy beasts liking to live in places like this. The open cover above only gave him small light, so he had to switch to night vision, turning on the scopes. He crept forward, down the tunnels to the south direction, his boots sloshing water as he walked. His feet were already soaked. He wasn�t dressed to be in the sewers, and his uniform certainly wasn�t a wet suit. He trudged through the sewer water, when he noticed the figure, much larger than a rat, very much human, but with the body temperature of a corpse, pressing against the wall, breathing deeply and watching him warily, as though it thought it was safe in darkness.
Gram switched his close-range stun gun for a tranquilizer, with enough juice to drop a werewolf, which was really saying something. As soon as he took off the safety, there was an explosion of movement, and he watched the vampire disappear down a tunnel at extraordinary speeds. He followed after him, focusing on keeping his footing in the slippery sludge. He rounded the corner and went down a short tunnel, spotting the vampire hiding near, as though he honestly thought he could shake him by trying to hide in a dark, cold spot. It only made him more visible. Gram didn�t hesitate, firing off a dart that hit Spike in the abdomen. The vampire rushed again, but didn�t charge Gram, surprisingly, just shoved him hard into the wall and ran, and Gram cursed as he realized the vampire�s intention was to double back and escape to the surface again. He got up, cursing himself some more as now he was fully and hopelessly soaked in sewer sludge.