TITLE: Season 2, Episode 3(Ep. 14 Overall)-Struggles, Inside and Out Part 1
SERIES: Faith, Rogue Slayer
AUTHOR: elizafan568
EMAIL: elizfaith568@yahoo.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please.
ARCHIVE/DISTRIBUTION: This site. If you want to post on your site, just ask.
SUMMARY: Dark forces begin to move as Faith faces off with Skorn.
SPOILERS: Buffy season 7 and Angel season 5
CONTENT/WARNINGS: Violence
RATING: R
DISCLAIMER: All character are property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, etc. I do not own them. Written for fun not profit.
NOTE: Set post-"Not Fade Away".
Season 2, Episode 3(Episode 14 Overall): Struggles, Inside and Out Part 1
Connor, Gwen, Lorne, and Andrew sat around the lobby of the hotel, watching Faith have a heated conversation with Buffy on the phone. Faith had decided that since this girl, Scorn, was a slayer, that it would be worth a shot to give Buffy a ring to see if she knew anything about her that could help them deal with her. Evidently, the conversation wasn't going so well.
"So, B, your telling that this girl joined the academy, pumped you guys for all the information she could about me, and then split without anyone knowing. Thanks so much B, didn't know you cared. Didn't her name ring a bell?" Faith said, sarcastically and more than a little irritated.
"Yes, it did Faith, but you don't understand. We didn't think she knew you were the one that killed Lester. She seemed fine, a star pupil if you will. We thought she was just trying to learn everything she could…looks like we were wrong." Buffy said, realizing how blind they had been.
"Well, it can't get much worse now. Question is, what do I do about it?" Faith asked, almost rhetorically.
"It does get worse, Faith. See, when we found her missing, we realized something was up and went looking through the Watcher's Council's old files. Turns out they had copies of the logs involving all their potentials kept in a place other than their Headquarters."
"Wait, what do you mean worse? How can it be worse?" Faith asked, her concern clearly evident on her face.
"Well, it seems her parents were killed by vampires when she was very young…right in front of her. As a result, she developed MPD, Multiple Personality Disorder. Her uncle, Lester Worth, took her in and paid for the best medical care he could and it seemed as though it subsided. Then after, well, you know, she simply disappeared. I think that her MPD has resurfaced worse than ever, and with her all alone, those no telling how bad its gotten. No matter what, Faith, you can't kill her. It's not really her fault, not completely." Buffy said, knowing how mad Faith was at their crappy dealing of the situation but not wanting the girl harmed.
Faith sighed, long and deep. She had basically another Dana on her hands, but one who had the goal of killing her. "I don't know, B. If it comes down to her or me, or someone else, I may have to. More blood on my hands won't matter at this point. I'm damned, I know that, but I can't let this girl, no matter how screwed up she is, go around hurting and maybe killing innocent people to get to me." Faith said, hating herself for it but knowing it may indeed come to that.
"No, Faith you can't. She's a human and it'ss not her fault. We didn't kill Dana and we didn't kill you, remember?" Buffy said, emotion overtaking her.
"True, but Dana was a different horse all together. Yeah, we didn't kill her, but we had the means to stop her without doing it. Maybe we could do that with Scorn too, maybe not. I'm not saying I'm just gonna kill her, no questions asked, but if it comes to down to it, I will if I have too. All I can say is that I'll try to do it another way, but stay out of it B. I mean it. This is my problem now, not yours and I don't want you or any of your people involved, alright?" Faith said, torn about what to do and knowing that if Buffy got involved, things would just get all the more worse.
Buffy was quiet for a moment on the other end, taking it all in. "Alright, Faith. I'll leave it to your discretion, but if you kill her, Faith, that's it for us. I will have nothing more to do with you, you hear me?"
"Fine with me, B. You keep to yours and I'll keep to mine if that's how you want it. I gotta do this my way, B. I'm sorry. Goodbye." Faith said, knowing there was no happy solution to this situation.
"Bye." Buffy said with finality, hating leaving this to Faith but knowing she had no place in this.
Faith hung up the phone and looked at the group. "Now, if I only knew what my way was. I don't have a clue in hell as to what I should do, and now that I know she's all messed up in the head, I don't know what to do about her. None of this is her fault, not really. It's mine and her condition." she said, plopping down in an empty chair and putting her head in her hands.
Lorne walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. "You'll do what you can do, the best way that you can do it. It's all you can do. I'm not going to tell you what to do or what I think you should do. It's your decision."
Andrew piped up with a smug look on his face. "I don't see what all the drama is about. She's obviously all Girl, Interrupted and she's trying to kill you, and anyone else around you. That's not right no matter what her reasons or mental condition is, right? You have to stop her, even if it does mean killing her, right?" Andrew said, think that it was that simple, the moral angst of it all seemingly lost on him.
Suddenly, Faith got up from her seat and grabbed her coat. "I need to get out and get some air. I'll be back, just don't follow me." She said as she reached the door.
Connor started after her when she turned around and looked him dead in the eyes, telling him to stay without a word.
Reluctantly, he seemed to consent and sat back down. "Okay. Just be careful." he said.
"Always am." She said as she left.
"I think she'll be alright. It's really not all that bad. Evil is evil, right?" Andrew said with a slight grin.
"Are you kidding me? She's hanging by a thread. There is no easy answer to this and if things get much worse with this chick, then Faith's going to have to do something that she never wanted to do again. No matter what the story behind it is, it's never going to sit well." Gwen said as she headed up stairs, the others staring at her in shock at the fact she seemed to be empathizing with Faith so.
"I really don't envy her and I wish I could help, but this is her deal, not ours. It's best if we stay out of it." Gwen said, disappearing upstairs.
As the silence grew thick over the group, Andrew broke it in his usual blunt way. "Well, I guess I better go check on Willow. Let her know exactly what's going on and make sure she doesn't need anything.." he said as he quickly hopped up the stairs.
Connor simply sat and stared at the door, thinking of Faith. If it did come down to it, that killing Scorn was the only way to stop her, then he would do it himself. He could save Faith from that at least. He just hoped he wouldn't need to.
****************
Scorn sat in her base of solitude, her mind racing over what she had done the night before, staring at the knife she had used to do it. *Why did I do it? Why? It was utterly despicable and evil. So why did something in me tell me to do it. That is was right and how it needed to be.* she thought to herself as she stabbed the knife into the wall.
*Because this is the way it has to be.* her other spoke. *To hunt and kill a monster such as Faith, you must become one yourself or fail. You do want your revenge don't you? You haven't forgotten what that bitch did to our uncle.*
"No, I haven't." Scorn spoke out aloud, to herself, to her other self. "But is this really what he would want? What my parents would want? For me to become like the very thing I hate so much. It's wrong, it has to be. But it's too late now. I killed that little girl…and part of me enjoyed it."
*Good, that is good. Take that. Remember that.Use that. Lose yourself in the rage, the hate and the bloodlust. Faith deserves a death at the hands of something as horrible as she. Emotions will only cloud our goal and make us hesitate. You must kill her and anyone that gets in the way, no matter if they are innocent or not. That girl is better off now, with her family in the next life. You'd be happier if you were with them, wouldn't you?* The other spoke, its voice loud and full of hate inside Scorn's head.
Scorn pulled the knife from the wall and fiddled with it, almost absent-mindedly. "Yes. I want to die and to end this miserable existence To end the pain and join my parents and my uncle. The girl was better off and it was merciful for me to send her there, but I won't do it again. It's not my purpose and not my way, just something she needed and something I needed to do, to become the monster I now am, to kill the monster that made me. Anyone that gets in my way will suffer the same, but no more random kills. I just can't."
*Do as you will. But know that the deaths of many more innocents may be needed to get to Faith. You must do whatever it takes. You are a monster after all. Rage, hate, bloodlust, and conviction is all you need. Only that and our goal matters. Forget everything else.* The other said as it retreated back into her subconscious, until it was needed again.
"Yes, I know. I am a willing monster, an evil, murderous bitch myself, but it doesn't matter. My life was over the day she took my uncle. Her creation will be her undoing, and then I'll end my existence, eliminating all trace of her evil. I don't care if I go to hell, as long as she does first. My uncle's death must be avenged and I must do it this way. He would understand. He always understood." Scorn said, thinking back to better times, before her world crumbled completely.
***********************
"Hey, uncle Lester, will you take me and Lisa to the movies tonight? We got enough money to pay." A young Scorn, then known as Stacey Worth, exclaimed as she ran up to her uncle, showing him the money she and her friend had made selling lemonade.
"Well, you girls sure have been busy. Hard work deserves a reward, I always say. What do you want to go see?" he asked, giving her a warm, fatherly look like he always did.
"I forget the name, but it's a really scary movie. You gotta see it to, cause we can't get in without an adult." She exclaimed, skipping around the room with joy.
"Well, I don't think you should be seeing something like that, but it is your money and it's what you want, so why not? Just don't blame me if it gives you nightmares." He said jokingly.
"You know me, uncle. I'm too tough to have nightmares." she laughed , making a muscle pose as he scooped her up and gave her a warm hug.
"Alright then. It's a plan for tonight then, little one." he said with all the love in the world.
"I love you, uncle Lester." She said, squeezing him tight.
"I love you too."
**********************
A swift motion and Scorn cut a deep gash onto her hand, followed by another. She gritted through the pain, not screaming and not crying. She knew exactly how to cut to make sure it would scar how she wanted it too. *This is for the girl in the alley. Every life that ends because of my and my vengeance, I will add a scar for. To drive me and remind me of what I have become and what I need to do to stop it. Kill Faith and it will stop. My pain and the pain I cause. It will all end with that bitch's death.* she thought as she bandaged the hand up.
Hearing a door slam, she looked out across the street to see Faith exit alone. "This is my chance." Scorn said to herself as she returned the knife its sheath under her jacket and grabbed a miniature crossbow. "These arrows will make it all the more interesting." she said as she quickly headed out in pursuit of Faith, waiting for the right time to strike.
********************
The Dark Assembly was in full swing and the subject of Faith had again come up. They needed Wolfram and Hart to move back into the LA territory for them to go forward with their plans of controlling the underworld dealings in North America, but they refused until Faith and her crew were out of the picture. After the disaster that was their Angel Project, they considered the presence of someone like Faith to high a risk to for them to return and it be "cost effective" as they put it.
Shinra, leader of the group, was looking for ideas on how to eliminate her quickly and with minimal effort. He was a demon of small stature but enormous power who remained in a facade of human form for most all occasions. His knowledge of the black arts was second to none. "So, the floor is open to any ideas as to how to eliminate the rogue slayer without costing us anything."
Before any of the others could speak, one stood up, command all their attention just because of his immense size. He stood seven and a half feet tall and was head to toe muscle. He skin had a red tint and his race was reptilian in appearance, but other than that, he looked human. "I can end this today. I've seen her in action and know what she's capable of. I can bring back her corpse within the hour, no fuss at all." he said in a loud, booming voice that seemed to echo in the large, dimly lit chamber.
"Oh really, Zabi. You think you can succeed where Zen failed? Take her in a fight and kill her with ease?" said Valgaav. A highly respected and feared demon of the underworld. He cold trace his lineage all the way back to the Old One that spawned him. His ability to create weapons out of pure physic power from thin was something many had tried and failed to duplicate.
"Yes I do. Zen was a fool to concerned with tradition to do anything right. I can take her this very night and our plans can move ahead in no time." Zabi exclaimed, slamming his huge fist onto the top of the table.
"Very well then, Zabi. If you think it's really as simple as that, then go, kill her tonight and bring back her body as proof. But beware, for if you fail, you won't live long enough to regret to. Assuming, of course, the Slayer doesn't kill you." Shinra laughed, finding Zabi's eagerness amusing. The rest of the assembly, save Zabi, joined in. They knew that brute force wasn't likely to work, but decided to let him have his way. If it worked, they their plans could move ahead. If it didn't, they would be rid of a member of their group that wasn't worthy of being there.
"I'll show you all!" he exclaimed as he stormed out. He had the Slayer's sent…she wasn't far. He would kill her easily, then prove to them all that brute force was the answer…it always was.
********************
Faith sat atop an old apartment building, looking out over the city. Trying to decide that if she couldn't convince Scorn that she had changed and to stop this madness, if she should kill or even if she could kill her.
*What the hell am I doing? How can I kill someone whose only doing these things because of something horrible I did to them? Not to mention the fact that it's not the real her that's doing it. This other persona has changed her, corrupted her. Add Slayer powers that may even surpass mine and I got one big dilemma. She may be to far gone to help, but even still. Is her death the answer? Should I, of all people, be the one to do it? It's not the blood added to my hands that bothers, but the fact that I'm not sure I even have the right to do it since I…* Faith stopped mid-thought at a sound behind her.
Jumping to her feet, Faith spun around in time to catch an arrow only inches before it hit her. However, she didn't she the second one and it hit her in the shoulder. Then another in her right leg. Faith gritted her teeth to keep from screaming in pain as she dropped to her knees. She saw Scorn jump down from atop the air conditioning system and throw the crossbow to the ground. Faith grabbed the arrow in her shoulder and yanked it out, spraying blood on the ground and yelping in pain as Scorn approached slowly.
Upon ripping the arrow from her thigh, Faith got to her feet and took stance. Both wounds were bleeding pretty bad but they weren't very deep. *Must have hit some veins is all. The wounds aren't bad, it's the blood loss that's gonna get me. Need to end this fast or I'm dead* she thought as Scorn stopped, a mere four feet away.
"Three, two, one…" is all Scorn said before it hit her. Faith felt a heavy drowsiness hit her. She lost her since of balance and found almost impossible to stand as she swayed back and forth, trying to keep Scorn in focus.
"That's a special poison just for you, Faith. It won't knock you out or dull your nerves, but it will make it nearly impossible to stand, much less fight." Scorn said in a tone that lacked emotion.
"Stacey, you've got to listen to me. I know all about you and your condition. This can't be the real you. Your other personality has tainted you and turned you into something you're not. You have to fight it and stop this." Faith said, uncomfortable with how Buffy-like she sounded.
"Oh, but your wrong. I want to be like this. I have to be like this, to kill a monster, one must become a monster. That's what I have done, what the "Other" has helped me do." Scorn exclaimed with complete conviction.
"No, it's just making you think that. Listen, I changed and you can too. It's not too late. Let me help you. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you; all the pain I caused. I can't change it…can't make up for it…but I have changed. I want to help you." Faith said, knowing how this girl felt. She had felt the same way towards Buffy when she had awoken from her coma and found that Mayor Wilkins was dead.
Scorn burst into maniacal laughter at Faith's words. "Oh my. The idea that Faith, the cold-blooded killer, the one who ruined my life and forced me to become like her, now wanting to help me, is the funniest thing I have ever heard. You can't help me. You can't even help yourself. You killed my uncle and took my life. I've become a monster because of you and now your creation will kill you, just as you killed my uncle. Only then will the violence end." Scorn exclaimed as she charged Faith.
"Wait!" Faith yelled as she braced herself.
Scorn came at her with power and speed Faith didn't think a Slayer was capable of. Scorn had Faith pinned against the door leading back into the building before she realized it, her forearm crushing Faith's face into the door. "See, because of you, I killed a little girl last night. Her parents were killed right in front of her by some demons. I slaughtered them and then out her out of her misery." Scorn said, he face mere inches from Faith's.
"You murderous…why?" Faith said anger rising but her head and vision still cloudy from the poison.
"It was mercy on my part. I kept her from knowing a miserable existence like my own, and it was what I had to do…to cross the line…to become a monster so I could kill you. That is the hard truth of what is necessary for vengeance, to become worse than the thing you seek. I damned myself after that, but I don't care. As long as you die." Scorn exclaimed, throwing Faith to the ground, kicking her in the stomach again and again.
Tears formed in Faith's eyes. Not because of the pain she was in, but because of the pain and fear that little girl must have known, and all because of her. To think that she could drive someone to such beliefs that such an act was "necessary" and "merciful", it hurt her to the core of her being. She knew she deserved this. This beating and more, but she had to get up, had to fight. Scorn had gone over the edge and there was no helping her now. She had to be stopped.
Faith was already damned, she knew that, just as Scorn knew she herself was damned, but Faith couldn't just die and let this woman kill her, even though she deserved it. The people that Scorn could and would hurt didn't. Faith had to stop her, even if it meant more blood on her hands, more weight and damnation on her soul. This had to end.
Faith grabbed Scorn's foot and pushed her away, making her stumble and fall down. Faith wobbly got to her feet and faced Scorn as she recovered. "You're right. I do deserve to die. My judgment will come and I'm pretty sure I know what it'll be too, but until then, I will fight. Even though nothing I do will change my fate, at least I can help the fate of others, and if killing you and further damning myself means saving at least one other soul from the same fate as that little girl, then look out Hell, here I come!"
Scorn screamed and charged Faith, a flurry of punches and kicks that Faith was barely able to block. The poison was still in full effect, and it was taking everything she had just to stand and defend herself. Faith caught Scorn's arm and flipped her over onto the ground, but Scorn held on and brought Faith down right along with her. She kicked Faith in the face and rolled to her feet. Faith caught the next kick and jammed her elbow into Scorn's knee, then followed with a back hand to her face, pushing her backward. Faith charged and kicked Scorn hard in the chest, knocking her to the ground.
Faith leapt atop Scorn, trying to pin her down, but Scorn kicked her off and regained her footing. Faith caught her right fist but took the left in the gut. Scorn punched her again and again. Faith's vision and strength failed her, succumbing to the pain and the poison. Scorn slammed her fists onto Faith's back, dropping her to her knees. Grabbing her head, she slammed her knee into Faith's face again…and again…and again, drawing blood from her nose and lip.
Scorn backed away as Faith sat propped up on her knee's , swaying back in forth as she felt her consciousness slipping away. Scorn punched left and right, again and again, across Faith's face, drawing blood from numerous cuts. The sadistic look and grin returned to her face and, just as with the little girl the night before, unnoticed tears flowed as well. Scorn kicked Faith in the side of her head, laying her out on the ground, face up.
Faith stared up at the night sky, starless as always. *So this is it. This is where I die. At the hands of a murderer I made. Ironic, isn't it?* she thought as Scorn bent down over her, straddling her waist. Bending, Scorn brought her lips to Faith, and gave her a kiss. Faith hadn't the strength to fight back or even turn away as Scorn deepened the kiss, pushing her tongue into Faith's mouth.
Scorn tore her mouth away and whispered in Faith's ear. "That was your kiss of death. I'm sure you've killed plenty of lovers in the past, you slut. Just a little taste of your own medicine." Scorn said as she drew the knife from under her jacket and ran it down the side of Faith's face, drawing blood.. "What was it you used to always say? Get some…" she said, giving Faith another quick kiss on the lips before raising the knife into the air, "…and get GONE!!!" she yelled as she plunged the knife towards Faith.
Moments before the knife hit its mark in the center of Faith's chest, Scorn found herself being slung halfway across the rooftop, hitting the edge with a thud and dropping the knife. She looked up to find an impossibly tall demon with red skin and a reptilian face standing over Faith. "Sorry, little girl, but that honor is reserved for me." he said with a laugh as he looked down at Faith, lying bloody and beaten on the ground. "Don't worry, Faith. I'll make it as slow and painful as possible." the demon Zabi laughed as Scorn looked on.
Standing up, Scorn faced Zabi, an ice cold rage overtaking her. Her other resurfacing and taking over. A rage and look different from the one before, overtook her as she became a different person. "No you don't, you fucking bastard. That bitch is mine!" She screamed, her face the very image of rage in its purist form, as she charged Zabi. As darkness started to take her, Faith knew it didn't matter who won. Either way, she knew her life was going to end tonight.
To Be Continued in Struggles, Inside and Out Part 2.….
