Chapter 6

Buffy fast asleep, once again an unknown figure sticks an unknown substance in her arm with a syringe.

—

The the UC Sunnydale cafeteria. Riley is sitting at a table laboring over papers. A friend Forrest is checking out his coeds.

Forrest: "Women. Young, nubile, exciting. Each one a mystery, waiting to be unlocked. Think any of them are gonna show? 'Cause the party will be lame if we lack for hotties. Professor? You with me?"

Riley : "No. I'm with this large pile of ungraded papers, due at 3:00."

Forrest : "How are you gonna learn anything if you keep doing schoolwork? Oh...Check her out. Is she hot, or is she hot?"

Buffy at the soda fountain. She's distracted and her cup starts to over flow.

Riley : (Looks up.) "She's buffy."

Forrest : "Buffy? I like that. That girl's so hot, she's buffy."

Riley : "It's her name, Forrest."

Forrest : "You've established first contact? Excellent. What do you think of her?"

Riley : "I haven't really thought about what I think of her."

Forrest : "A girl that cute in the face, and you form no opinion?"

Riley : "No, I mean, She's all right, I guess. She's just kind of... I don't know. Peculiar."

Buffy breaks the handle off of the the frozen yogurt machine. She battles with it for a bit.

Forrest : "Peculiar? Hi. Hey, graham, what do you think of the blonde chick? Mattressable? Riley's not down. Doesn't like her."

Riley : "I don't dislike her. She just-- she never feels like she's really there when you talk to her. I like girls I can get a grip on."

Forrest : "I bet you do."

Riley : "Not that way. Just a little less ready for takeoff all the time. There's definitely something off about her."

Graham : "Maybe she's canadian."

Buffy flees the site and we see the yogurt machine overflowing in her wake.

Forrest : "Didn't she go out with parker abrams for about 30 seconds?"

Riley : "Abrams? Yeah, there's a sign of good taste."

Buffy goes to the register and pays for her food.

Forrest : "Ok, but you've got to admit she's a major league hottie."

Riley : "Well, I'm not denying she's easy on the eyes. I'm just saying... (Buffy spills both drink and yogurt on the floor.) Would you really want to go out with her?"

Forrest : Hell, yes. I bet a lot of guys would like to get their hands on her.

—

Giles and Xander mull over the texts for the spell and the drawing of the commandos. Buffy walks in the apartment.

Buffy : "Hello, people."

Xander: "Hey."

Giles : "Uh...You are patrolling tonight?"

Buffy : "Nope, I am going to a party tonight. Hopefully, a "no fighting, no biting" kind of deal."

Giles gives Buffy a look.

Buffy: "What?"

Giles gestures to the research and the military man drawing.

Giles: "There's a lot going on."

Buffy: "Well, Octavia seems to be scared off by the commandos so maybe I'll let them take the lead while I go out."

Giles: "Have you thought that maybe Octavia hasn't shown herself because she doesn't want to. She could still be up to something."

Buffy : "Giles, I live in a dorm now. The girls in my hall want to party, And I need some cheering up."

Giles gives up.

Xander : "Right, how are you doing?"

Buffy : (Cutting off Xander.) "I'm dealing. It's hard. Ergo, party. You two can take patrol. Maybe find mr. Assassin to help. If anything really really bad happens you can come and get me okay? Does that work?"

The two nod.

Buffy: "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find something slutty to wear tonight."

Buffy struts out of the apartment.

—

Riley is talking to Forrest and Graham in their dorm, and he's throwing a frizbee back and forth between another guy. They're still discussing the Buffy situation.

Riley : "Yeah, but she's nuts."

Forrest : "Hey, Parker!"

Parker has entered the dorm.

Parker : "Forrest. What's up, man?"

Forrest : "What's the scoop on Buffy Summers? Is she cool?"

Parker : "Buffy? Yeah, she's all right, I guess. I mean, kind of whiney."

Forrest : "How's that?"

Parker : "Well, you know, clingy. I mean, we got a little physical-- Uh, well, fully physical, and then she's all over me, you know, like we're betrothed or something."

Forrest : "No, but fun was had, yeah?"

Parker : [Laughs] "oh, yeah. The word is stamina. I mean, definitely a bunny in the sack, but later on, well. You know the difference between a freshman girl and a toilet seat? A toilet seat doesn't follow you around after you use it."

Riley decks Parker who hits the floor.

—-

Riley Forrest and Graham walking out and away from where he just hit Parker.

Riley : "I can't believe that I did that."

Forrest : "Welcome to the club. Do you have any idea how much trouble you could have gotten into? If parker reported you--"

Graham : "He won't, he's too embarrassed."

Riley : "I hit him."

Forrest : "What the hell for?

Riley : "He--he was just being so crude."

Forrest : "Please. You've heard me say much grosser things than that."

Riley : "And most of those are about your own mother."

Riley laughes and Forrest jokingly smacks him on the back of the head.

Riley stops abruptly.

Forrest : "What is it?"

Riley : "I just didn't like hearing him (he pauses thoughtfully) talk about buffy that way. I think I... Well, I guess I like her."

Forrest : You're kind of like a moron."

Riley : "So, you... You knew that I had feelings for her."

Forrest : "Everybody knows, man. She's peculiar? Dead giveaway, buddy."

Riley : "I'm always the last to know."

—-Nighttime and Giles and Xander hiding in the woods.

Xander: "Every man faces this moment. Here. Now. Watching. Waiting For an unseen enemy that has no face. Nerve endings screaming in silence. Never knowing which thought might be your last."

Giles : "Oh, shut up."

—

Willow and Buffy enter into the party.

Buffy : Looks cool. Oh, look. Some of the guys are here already.

Willow : I'm gonna grab a soda. I'll--I'll find you guys.

Buffy : Ok.

Willow walks over to the drinks and runs into Riley.

Riley: "Hey Willow."

Willow: "Hey."

Riley: "is, uh Buffy around?"

Willow looks at him, Riley's nervousness gives it away.

Willow: "You have a crush on Buffy don't you?"

Riley: "What, uh..."

Willow's look demands the truth.

Riley: "Yeah, I think I do. I wanna get to know her more."

Willow smiles, she thinks it's sweet.

Willow : "Ok, she's wearing the halter top with sensible shoes. That means mostly dancing, light contact, But don't push your luck. Heavy conversation's out of the question."

Riley : "So what do I do?"

Willow : "Ask her to dance."

Riley : "Right. Dance. Wait. No."

Willow : "What's the matter?"

Riley : "I can't dance."

Willow : "Then talk. Keep eye contact. Funny is good, but don't be glib. And remember, if you hurt her, I will beat you to death with a shovel. A vague disclaimer is nobody's friend. Have fun."

She pats him on the shoulder. Riley walks off and sees Buffy standing in a circle of people. Riley makes his way through towards her.

Riley : "Excuse me. Hi."

Buffy : "Hi."

Riley : "Um...Buffy... (He pauses looking at a loss.) You do the reading on chapter 9?"

Buffy : "Uh-huh."

Buffy gives him a look like why are you asking me about class?

Riley : "Wow. Some theories, huh? Cheese?"

He holds up a cube of cheese on a stick.

—-

Giles and Xander still on patrol. Giles leads the way with a map, searching for the possible location of moonstone.

"It looks to be just a few minutes this way-"

The Assassin drops with heavy feet in front of Giles, scaring him and Xander half to death.

"Oh Crap!" "Good Heavens!"

The Assassin gets straight to business.

"Have you located another stone?"

"Uh, yes. Yes. Just up this way." Giles gestures still recovering from the scare. The Assassin gestures for them to carry on.

"Guess you'll be joining us." Xander says.

The trio move of in the direction of the moon stone location. They come upon an abandoned building in a swampy area. They enter and begin sweeping the building for the moon stone. Forgotten relics and forgotten weapons and tools. It looks as if an ancient battle was fought here.

"Up ahead." Giles says as he points.

They locate the moonstone hidden under some Debris. As Giles is about to pick it up-

"Where there is one, there will be another and we will not stop." Three figures emerge from the rafters and from outside. "Until we collect our bounty."

The three figures, two lizard demons and a human all draped in red clothing. These three are among the members of the order of taraka.

Giles immediately recognizes them.

"The order of taraka." Giles says. "Xander, go and get Buffy."

Xander gulps and runs out the back door with the moonstone.

One demon with a face like a lizard says. "Yes, go and fetch the slayer, although she might be too late." The lizard demon laughs maniacally.

The man named zero from the order of taraka produces a long spear, one lizard demon takes out a whip which he promptly lights on fire and snaps. The other lizard demon uses a flaming sword.

Giles looks nervously. The Assassin puts a reassuring hand on his shoulder the turns to the order of taraka members. The Assassin grabs a sword from off the ground. "Do not be afraid." He says. "Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this these demons shall be like one of them."

He points his sword and prepares for battle.

The battle begins. Giles battles the Zero, axe against spear. The Assassin takes on both lizard demons. He dodges the lizards fire whip and clashes with the others sword. With every strike of the whip the whip starts small fires around the building.

Giles dodges strikes and counters as best he can but the smoke is starting to rise.

The Assassin manages to counter and decapitate one of the lizard demons. He gets ready to face The lizard demon with the whip. Fire rising around them.

Octavia surprise attacks the Assassin throwing him to the ground.

"An Assassin? The only thing I hate more than not finding the slayer is an Assassin." Octavia says. "Maybe I'll send your head back to your council. Or maybe I'll change you first."

She leaps at him-

—

Riley and Willow sitting on a couch at the party. Neither look very much in a party mood.

Riley : I can't believe it. I choked.

Willow : You really, really did.

Riley : You don't understand. I'm good at things. That's what I do. Work hard, apply myself, get it done.

Willow : Well, you failed extremely well.

Riley : That's a great comfort to me.

Buffy's doing a sexy dance with another guy.

Willow : You need to relax. I mean, you're not proposing. You're just making contact, getting a reaction. Any reaction is ok, except projectile vomiting. But, what are the chances of that—

Riley :Hm.

Willow gets up from the couch.

Willow : I want you to find Buffy and tell her that I went home and not to worry about me. Which at least will give you something to say.

Riley : Thanks.

Willow : You'll do fine.

She leaves and Riley journeys to find Buffy. He walks over to Buffy and puts his hand on her shoulder.

Buffy : Hey.

Riley : Um, Willow said to say that she took off.

Buffy looks upset.

Riley: Oh, no, she's ok. She said not to worry.

Buffy : Thank you.

Riley : You know... I wanted to ask you something.

Buffy : Ask away.

Xander runs in interupting them.

Xander : Buffy! I've been looking all over for you. We need... Need to talk, uh, not here. It's sort of... Unfinished business.

Buffy : Business? Right. Uh, excuse us?

Riley : No problem.

Buffy and Xander sprint out of the house.

Forrest walks up.

Forrest : Denied.

Riley : It's not like she blew me off. She just left with another guy, that's all.

Forrest : We need you downstairs, anyway.

Forrest, Graham and Riley begin walking down a hallway.

Forrest: You know, I hate to say it, but they're probably on their way to make crazy naked sеx.

Riley : Is that necessary?

They stand in front of a mirror and a glowing green light scans them.

Forrest : I'm protecting you, buddy. I don't want to see you mooning over some freshman for the next 3 months.

Computer: Retinal scan accepted. They enter the elevator that opens up in the wall.

Riley : I like her.

Graham : I'm on your side, here.

Riley : I know you are, Graham. That's what gives me the strength to put up with this comedian.

Forrest : Dude, I know girls.

Riley : Exactly! Girls, plural. I'm talkin' about one girl. (He leans into a microphone.) One girl.

Computer: Initiative vocal code match complete. Special agent Finn, Riley. Identity number 75329.

They enter the massive under ground bat cave like facility that is the headquarters of the Initiative.

Riley : The problem is, what kind of girl is gonna go out with a guy who's acting all joe regular by day and then turns all demon-hunter by night?

Graham: Maybe a peculiar one.

Riley: Thank you, Graham. You see, forrest? You don't have to be so negative all the time. Hold up. Situation?

They walk over to where Prof. Walsh and Ivar.

Walsh : "Gentlemen, suit up. We have a code red. We've spotted the slayer."

Ivar:  "She was spotted at the edges of the city, nearing the marshlands."

Forrest and Riley are almost done putting on thier gear.

Walsh: "Assume it knows the area. The creature has every advantage right now.

Walsh turns to a suited up team of commandos ready to go.

Walsh : "Gentlemen, agent Finn is now in charge of this operation. I'm counting on you, Riley."

Riley : "We start with the basic mobilization pattern. 3 Teams. Sweep and search, just like practice. Thorough but fast. All units, maintain radio contact early and often. Who's got questions? Move!"

—

Buffy and Xander race off to Giles and the Assassin.

"We got the stone, but Giles and your Assassin friend are being attacked." Xander explains. "By the order of taraka."

Xander shows her the stone then hides it in his pocket.

"What? They're back?" Buffy asks.

"Yep, and they have nice new red uniforms." Xander says.

They continue sprinting as fast as they can. Hoping they can make it in time.

—

The commandos sweep through the town making their way closer and closer to the marshlands.

—

The fire consumes the building as Giles and The Assassin stand cornered. Octavia, Zero and lizard close in.

The Assassin is being heavily affected by the smoke and flames, his heavy outfit weighing on him. Giles stands protectively with his axe out in front of him.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm okay." The Assassin says with strained breath.

"We'll make it out of this." Giles says he turns his attention to Octavia.

"I mean killing the slayers watcher will definitely be a win." Octavia says.

"Octavia!" Buffy says as she stands defiantly in the doorway.

Octavia turns and smiles. "Slayer." She motions with her hands. Zero and the Lizard attack Giles and the Assassin while Octavia goes after Buffy.

Octavia and Buffy fight amongst the flames. Their fury matched by the heat of the fire.

Zero pierces Giles with his spear. Giles falls to the ground.

Xander comes out of nowhere and hits Zero. The building starts to come part.

"C'mon, we need to get it of here!" Xander shouts as he helps up Giles.

Zero and the lizard come back for another round. Unrelenting.

The Assassin says "Get him out of here, Go!"

Giles and Xander escape out he back. Xander carries Giles through the marshland towards a small bridge.

Back inside The Assassin's skills are waning. A flaming rafter falls onto Zero crushing him. The flames are too much for The lizard demon and he slithers out. The Assassin is inhaling too much smoke and is starting to waver.

Octavia and Buffy continue their fight but a falling flaming piece of the building separates them.

When Buffy recovers, Octavia is gone.

Buffy looks over at The Assassin and runs to save him. The Assassin is nearly unconscious. She carries him out of the burning building and they make it out just as the building collapses.

—

Xander brings Giles further to safety to get him medical care.

—

Buffy pulls the Assasin away from the building and they end up on a small bridge that connects the marshland to firmer ground. She lets him drop to the ground. She is succumbing to fatigue. Maybe it's the smoke? The fight? Or something else?

"There you are." Octavia appears on the other side of the small bridge.

No time to rest.

Buffy stands up slowly.

"Octavia, I know what happened to you. I know you used to be a slayer. We may have found a way to change you back." Buffy pleads.

"You think you know me? What I want? I never was asked what I wanted!" Octavia says.

"I know, I know you didn't get a choice. Neither did I. I know what it feels like, the pressure, the...loneliness. It doesn't have to be like this." Buffy says.

"You can't possibly know! You have friends! Support! I had no one except an indifferent watcher! And one, lowly Assassin." Octavia says. Angry tears in her eyes. Her eyes narrow to the Assassin passed out on the ground.

"That must be him." Octavia says stepping forward.

Buffy steps in front, protectively.

"I want to help you. Whatever happened we can get past it. But you have to want to be saved." Buffy says.

Octavia laughs.

"There is no going back." Octavia says.

Octavia leaps at Buffy. They begin fighting fiercely on the bridge. Buffy's fatigue beginning to show.

From a good distance away night vision commandos watch on the bridge. They can barely make out Buffy.

"Two slayers?" One of them asks.

"Let's take them both."

They move in.

Buffy and Octavia continue their battle. Octavia drops Buffy to her knees.

"Freeze!" One commando says. "Don't move!"

From the perspective of the commandos: they see through night vision goggles, Buffy faces away from them.

"Turn around!"

Buffy looks at Octavia. Octavia gives her a look, ready to temporarily join sides. Just as Buffy is about to turn around.

BOOM!

A smoke bomb goes off blinding everyone.

The Commandos fire blindly.

Octavia and Buffy take down a couple of them.

The Assassin is up on his feet. He grabs Buffy and the two disappear. Octavia uses this opportunity to escape also.

When the smoke clears Riley unmasks himself, disappointed. He radios back to the initiative base.

"Alpha team, Alpha team, we've lost contact with the hostile...there may be two of them."

—

The Assassin leads Buffy a safe distance away. She drops to the ground coughing and clearing her eyes. When she looks up the Assassin is gone.

—

On a rooftop the footsteps of the Assassin stumble and fall, he coughs and pulls off his mask to get air, coughing and breathing deeply.

(It's still unknown who this Assassin is)

—

Buffy meets Xander and Willow at the hospital where Giles' wounds are being treated.

"He'll be all right." Willow says reassuringly.

"And I still have this." Xander shows the moonstone.

"Save it." Buffy says fiercely.

She looks at Giles laying in a hospital bed.

"She doesn't want to be rescued." Buffy says. "The next time I see her, I'll stake her myself."

End of Part VI