Part 7

Buffy awoke to the smell of steaming coffee. She glanced at her watch and was amazed to find it read five-thirty in the afternoon. She had slept the whole day? How? She stumbled towards the kitchen and found Max Quaylen cooking and singing a tune she didn't recognize, which wasn't surprising - it was a folk song from the eighth century from one of the Champion's many lifetimes. He glanced behind him and saw Buffy looking on in amusement. He shared her grin and gestured her to take a seat by the table. She followed his gaze and saw what looked like a huge banquet for more than ten people.

She sat down and started digging in from the plate offered to her, mouthing thanks.

“Eat up.” Max said as he switched off the stove and placed what he was cooking onto another dish and set it among the rest of the food. “We're gonna have a full night ahead and we've got to be ready with full bellies. I've already called the rest of your friends and Richard should here any time soon.”

Buffy stopped eating at the mention of their enigmatic companion and asked. “Where'd he go? I thought he was sleeping it off in one of Giles's guestrooms. Did he rent a motel nearby?”

“No,” He replied. “He went to visit a friend of his that was with us when this fracas started. He said he'd be here around nightfall. Meanwhile, while you guys slept, I woke up early and started through most of the books we had yesterday. Giles's came in after a few minutes of digging into the all stuff we got on monster lore. All we came up with was a blank wall. Heck, now I know how to disembowel most of the trash than I did before. Even with my memories of past lives and how I battled each fiend didn't come up with answers as to how we can nail that sucker.”

“Can't we just find some way to nuke the guy without taking all of us out in the process?” Buffy inquired, telling him of the time she and the Scooby Gang destroyed a blue demon with an anti-tank missile.

Max smiled, admiring her guts during that time. “Nah, would be too easy. We could try though. I just don't know anyone around who's a terrorist with some nuke ammo for sale. Plus that bastard can simply vanish before the missile could ever make a direct hit. If only we could restrain him from vanishing so we could shove a tactical min-nuke down its throat. That is - if ever get our hands on even one of those things.”

“So who's willing to hold the bloody creature while someone else takes aim?” Giles said from the kitchen door, coming in from running errands Quaylen sent him on. “Champion, the rest of your gear I got from your rented motel are now in the living room. I must admit; half of the things I saw in your duffel bag are one-of-a-kind ancient weapons of mass destruction. I can even feel the power emanating from some of them. However on earth did you acquire them?”

Max looked thoughtful and was about to speak when Giles suddenly raised his hand. “On second thought, knowing you, maybe I really don't want to know.”

A knock on the door signaled the return of the rest of the Scooby Gang. A few hours later, everyone was accounted for except for Richard Todd. Giles and Quaylen briefed everyone on their part of trying to entrap the creature to the best of their ability and that Max, Buffy, and Richard would be the ones leading the frontal assault. Quaylen lent Buffy one of the weapons from his potable arsenal, an enchanted sword blessed by Archangel Michael - ironically dubbed “Demon Slayer” by the warrior angel himself. Buffy looked pleased with herself until she saw Quaylen materialize a golden flaming sword out of thin air and introduced them to his own angelic blade - a part of the sword of fire which surrounds the fabled Garden of Eden. Giles was astounded to find out that the blade was also sentient; the sword shocked him even more when it thanked him for the compliment.

“We can't wait any longer.” The Eternal Champion said, after the briefing. “We've got to find that thing before it could kill more of those innocent out there. Let's leave a note so Richard may be able to…..”

He never got the chance to finish what he was saying when the front door burst open, and a grief-stricken Richard Todd just stood outside. Buffy and Giles rushed over before the young man could collapse, hearing him mutter: “They're gone, its all my fault!” over and over again. They laid him on the couch and Willow got some water from the kitchen. Xander gave Buffy some pillows to put under Todd's head as he lay in a daze. Max started for the man and asked what had transpired. Richard told them what he saw.

------------------------------------

Richard woke up an hour later, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Over the years, his body chemistry had evolved so much that he only required an hour of sleep every now and then to re-charge. Looking in on Christine's room: satisfied that nothing had been disturbed, he set out to cook himself some breakfast. After calling in on Angel, he left word that he would be there shortly. A couple of hours later, he was already at the hotel the vampire was converting into their new base of operations. Gingerly, he knocked on the frail looking door, expecting the thing to fall any moment. A young black man with eyes that had seen a world of hurt and more greeted him. Richard knew that look before; he saw them every time he looked at a mirror.

“You Richard Todd?” The man asked, even though he was already made aware of what he would look like. Todd simply nodded, shook his hands and asked to speak to Angel.

“Sure, man.” He replied, “The dude's upstairs doing some repairs. Just be careful coz some of the floors may give a groan. The place IS old you know, like the door you were about to knock over.” Todd smiled at that little joke. He liked Angel's taste in friends - brash, smart, and full of courage. Thanking the man, he walked up the steps and noted that Wesley was by the other end - repainting the back wall. He shrugged, since he didn't see Ms Chase, he surmised she must be with Angel upstairs. A dozen wicked comments went through his mind at the implications of such trains of thought and noticed they would look cute as a couple. Musing on this, he found Angel and Cordy on the fourth floor, tearing down some old wallpaper. Beside them were trash bags full of the same wallpaper from the upper floors; he guessed they must've been working their way down. They would have continued until Richard cleared his throat to announce his presence. Cordy gave a little yelp and Angel jumped at the sound of the stranger. They both turned to find Richard grinning at them like a Cheshire cat. Angel looked annoyed, but glad he was here.

“Took you long enough.” He said, once Cordy calmed down and introductions were made.

“I know you guys are kinda busy and all, but I was wondering if you like to join us tonight in hunting the creature before it strikes again.”

Angel nodded, “I'm in. I was just doing some remodeling to pass up the time. As for the research, we've got more or less than what you and the others have. Wesley's down there with Gunn and will give you the notes later to give to the others. I wish there was more we can do.”

“Thanks, but I guess since that thing's too old and maybe too smart - it must've already done away with those that once knew of its certain weaknesses. But I have a few things under my sleeves that might even things out a bit.”

“No doubt…..” Angel said and then both men turned as Cordy suffered another vision. Angel was already getting used to this, and since it was Richard's first time to see her like this - he reacted as if an attack was coming. He immediately assumed a battle stance and looked left and right for any assailant, only then realizing Ms Chase's condition - she was a seer.

When the vision subsided, Angel wrote down the impressions Cordelia received. She said she saw two people being overshadowed by a third, larger shadow. An Inhuman laughter and the scent of rotting flesh filled her sense. Blood was flying everywhere. Unlike most other visions she had, she was able to describe the victims clearly before they went down. Richard's blood ran cold when the description matched those of Gail and Barton Cheswick! He swore, then vanished in a flash of light.

Angel looked up to find himself all alone with Cordelia. From Richard's muttered curse, he'd say things have just gone from bad to worse. And he had a feeling that tonight, things will come to a head.

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	Part 7 Buffy awoke to the smell of steaming coffee. She glanced at her watch and was amazed to find it read five-thirty in the afternoon. She had slept the whole day? How? She stumbled towards the kitchen and found Max Quaylen cooking and singing a tune she didn't recognize, which wasn't surprising - it was a folk song from the eighth century from one of the Champion's many lifetimes. He glanced behind him and saw Buffy looking on in amusement. He shared her grin and gestured her to take a seat by the table. She followed his gaze and saw what looked like a huge banquet for more than ten people. She sat down and started digging in from the plate offered to her, mouthing thanks. “Eat up.” Max said as he switched off the stove and placed what he was cooking onto another dish and set it among the rest of the food. “We're gonna have a full night ahead and we've got to be ready with full bellies. I've already called the rest of your friends and Richard should here any time soon.” Buffy stopped eating at the mention of their enigmatic companion and asked. “Where'd he go? I thought he was sleeping it off in one of Giles's guestrooms. Did he rent a motel nearby?” “No,” He replied. “He went to visit a friend of his that was with us when this fracas started. He said he'd be here around nightfall. Meanwhile, while you guys slept, I woke up early and started through most of the books we had yesterday. Giles's came in after a few minutes of digging into the all stuff we got on monster lore. All we came up with was a blank wall. Heck, now I know how to disembowel most of the trash than I did before. Even with my memories of past lives and how I battled each fiend didn't come up with answers as to how we can nail that sucker.” “Can't we just find some way to nuke the guy without taking all of us out in the process?” Buffy inquired, telling him of the time she and the Scooby Gang destroyed a blue demon with an anti-tank missile. Max smiled, admiring her guts during that time. “Nah, would be too easy. We could try though. I just don't know anyone around who's a terrorist with some nuke ammo for sale. Plus that bastard can simply vanish before the missile could ever make a direct hit. If only we could restrain him from vanishing so we could shove a tactical min-nuke down its throat. That is - if ever get our hands on even one of those things.” “So who's willing to hold the bloody creature while someone else takes aim?” Giles said from the kitchen door, coming in from running errands Quaylen sent him on. “Champion, the rest of your gear I got from your rented motel are now in the living room. I must admit; half of the things I saw in your duffel bag are one-of-a-kind ancient weapons of mass destruction. I can even feel the power emanating from some of them. However on earth did you acquire them?” Max looked thoughtful and was about to speak when Giles suddenly raised his hand. “On second thought, knowing you, maybe I really don't want to know.” A knock on the door signaled the return of the rest of the Scooby Gang. A few hours later, everyone was accounted for except for Richard Todd. Giles and Quaylen briefed everyone on their part of trying to entrap the creature to the best of their ability and that Max, Buffy, and Richard would be the ones leading the frontal assault. Quaylen lent Buffy one of the weapons from his potable arsenal, an enchanted sword blessed by Archangel Michael - ironically dubbed “Demon Slayer” by the warrior angel himself. Buffy looked pleased with herself until she saw Quaylen materialize a golden flaming sword out of thin air and introduced them to his own angelic blade - a part of the sword of fire which surrounds the fabled Garden of Eden. Giles was astounded to find out that the blade was also sentient; the sword shocked him even more when it thanked him for the compliment. “We can't wait any longer.” The Eternal Champion said, after the briefing. “We've got to find that thing before it could kill more of those innocent out there. Let's leave a note so Richard may be able to…..” He never got the chance to finish what he was saying when the front door burst open, and a grief-stricken Richard Todd just stood outside. Buffy and Giles rushed over before the young man could collapse, hearing him mutter: “They're gone, its all my fault!” over and over again. They laid him on the couch and Willow got some water from the kitchen. Xander gave Buffy some pillows to put under Todd's head as he lay in a daze. Max started for the man and asked what had transpired. Richard told them what he saw. ------------------------------------ Richard woke up an hour later, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Over the years, his body chemistry had evolved so much that he only required an hour of sleep every now and then to re-charge. Looking in on Christine's room: satisfied that nothing had been disturbed, he set out to cook himself some breakfast. After calling in on Angel, he left word that he would be there shortly. A couple of hours later, he was already at the hotel the vampire was converting into their new base of operations. Gingerly, he knocked on the frail looking door, expecting the thing to fall any moment. A young black man with eyes that had seen a world of hurt and more greeted him. Richard knew that look before; he saw them every time he looked at a mirror. “You Richard Todd?” The man asked, even though he was already made aware of what he would look like. Todd simply nodded, shook his hands and asked to speak to Angel. “Sure, man.” He replied, “The dude's upstairs doing some repairs. Just be careful coz some of the floors may give a groan. The place IS old you know, like the door you were about to knock over.” Todd smiled at that little joke. He liked Angel's taste in friends - brash, smart, and full of courage. Thanking the man, he walked up the steps and noted that Wesley was by the other end - repainting the back wall. He shrugged, since he didn't see Ms Chase, he surmised she must be with Angel upstairs. A dozen wicked comments went through his mind at the implications of such trains of thought and noticed they would look cute as a couple. Musing on this, he found Angel and Cordy on the fourth floor, tearing down some old wallpaper. Beside them were trash bags full of the same wallpaper from the upper floors; he guessed they must've been working their way down. They would have continued until Richard cleared his throat to announce his presence. Cordy gave a little yelp and Angel jumped at the sound of the stranger. They both turned to find Richard grinning at them like a Cheshire cat. Angel looked annoyed, but glad he was here. “Took you long enough.” He said, once Cordy calmed down and introductions were made. “I know you guys are kinda busy and all, but I was wondering if you like to join us tonight in hunting the creature before it strikes again.” Angel nodded, “I'm in. I was just doing some remodeling to pass up the time. As for the research, we've got more or less than what you and the others have. Wesley's down there with Gunn and will give you the notes later to give to the others. I wish there was more we can do.” “Thanks, but I guess since that thing's too old and maybe too smart - it must've already done away with those that once knew of its certain weaknesses. But I have a few things under my sleeves that might even things out a bit.” “No doubt…..” Angel said and then both men turned as Cordy suffered another vision. Angel was already getting used to this, and since it was Richard's first time to see her like this - he reacted as if an attack was coming. He immediately assumed a battle stance and looked left and right for any assailant, only then realizing Ms Chase's condition - she was a seer. When the vision subsided, Angel wrote down the impressions Cordelia received. She said she saw two people being overshadowed by a third, larger shadow. An Inhuman laughter and the scent of rotting flesh filled her sense. Blood was flying everywhere. Unlike most other visions she had, she was able to describe the victims clearly before they went down. Richard's blood ran cold when the description matched those of Gail and Barton Cheswick! He swore, then vanished in a flash of light. Angel looked up to find himself all alone with Cordelia. From Richard's muttered curse, he'd say things have just gone from bad to worse. And he had a feeling that tonight, things will come to a head. -0-0-0-0-0- next page Return