TITLE: Episode 2: The Test
SERIES: Faith, Rogue Slayer
AUTHOR: elizafan568
EMAIL: elizfaith568@yahoo.com
FEEDBACK: Yes, please.
ARCHIVE/DISTRIBUTION: This site. If you want to post on on your site, just ask.
SPOILERS: Buffy season 7 and Angel season 5
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"
Episode 2: The Test
It wasn’t the nicest hotel in the world, but it was a hell of a lot nicer than the one Faith had
stayed at in Sunnydale all those years ago. It didn’t really matter. They wouldn’t be here long anyway.
“Well, I guess we should head out and go pick up Connor, right Lorne?” Faith asked as she slipped on her leather jacket.
“Um, yeah, about that. I think it’d be better if I stayed here and look into finding us a more permanent place to stay. You know, dig up some of my sources, see if they now of anything in our price range.” Lorne replied with a slight laugh.
“Your right, that’s probably a good idea. I don’t have all that much money on me so our options are kinda limited.” Faith opened the door and started out.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. Take care.”
As Faith closed the door behind her , Lorne let out a long sigh of relief. “Thank god. I don’t think I could of stood another ride on the thing. Faith’s driving is…questionable to say the least.” Lorne thought as he prepared to head out himself. He wasn’t really sure where to start with their limited resources but he hoped there was something out there for them.
**********************************
The sewer systems under LA where indeed a vast maze. That’s what Highlander Zen loved most about this dimension. The fact that humans could build such a complicated system of tunnels underneath their cities and then, for the most part, ignore them completely.
Zen kept his accommodations simple regardless of the job he was performing. A nice, antiques table and chair, candles for light, and whatever scrolls and books he might need. He sat now at that table surrounded by about two dozen vampires, all kneeling in respect to the demon they knew could kill them all with ease.
“I really do enjoy this place. Reminds me of my home dimension. Don’t you all agree?” he asked. The vampires all nodded in agreement with his statement. They knew the less they spoke, the safer it was for them.
A robbed figure entered and slowly approached Zen.
“Master Zen, I thought you should know that a human has been snooping around the demon bars asking about the Slayer.”
“Really,” Zen replied “that is interesting. I would have preferred to keep the Slayer isolated but not matter. This seems as good a time as any to test her abilities. I need to see her in action for myself.” He motioned four vamps in the front row to approach.
“I want you four to go, capture this human, and bring him back to me. Use the entrance under the warehouse. Now go.”
“Yes master!” They replied in unison and hurried out of the lair.
The robed figure started to walk away but was stopped with a hand on his shoulder, Zen’s hand.
“One moment there. I need you to make sure that Faith finds this human with my minions before they make it back here. Make sure they meet up in the warehouse. I wanna see her with my own eyes.”
“Yes master.” The figured replied as he quickly headed out.
“Oh, and Ethan…” Zen said as he was about to exit. The robed figure turned around, revealing the face of Ethan Rayne, chaos worshipper. “…don’t fail me. Our you won’t be around to see the lovely chaos I will soon bring.”
“Of course, master. I can’t wait.” With that, Ethan headed out, a slight skip to his step. He was so excited. If what Zen had told him was true, and he believed it was, then the universe was about to get a lot more chaotic, and he couldn’t wait.
**************************
Connor left his house before his parents woke up. He left a note for them saying he was just overly excited and couldn’t wait to move into his new dorm. He had a small bag with him full of clothes and a couple of other miscellaneous items. He had walked a couple blocks when Faith pulled up beside him.
“What’s up kid? Need a lift?” She asked with a grin. Her eyes blocked by a pair of dark sunglasses.
“I don’t know, I was always told not to take rides from strangers.” Connor grinned at her.
“Come on, hope on boy wonder. We got a lot of work to do.”
Connor sat on the back of the bike, his bag tied around his shoulder. He nervously wrapped his arms around Faith’s waist. He blushed slightly at the thought of being so close to Faith. He wasn’t sure what it was about her that he found so attractive, but the attraction he felt toward her was undeniable. And that fact made him even more nervous.
“Hold on tight now, don’t wanna lose you along the way.” Faith smiled as she got ready to take off. Before she could, however, a man approached them. “A moment of your time miss if you don’t mind.”
Faith took off her sunglasses and glared at the man. “Who the hell are you?”
“My name is Ethan but that’s not important right now.” He said with an English accent. “What is important is that someone you know is in a lot of trouble right now and needs you help, immediately.”
“Oh really, and I’m supposed to believe some stranger out of the blue because…” Faith asked with thick disbelief.
“Because if you don’t, he will die. And there will be no one to blame but yourself. If you want another death on your conscience, I won’t stop you. But is that a chance your really willing to take? Could you live with yourself knowing you let someone else die when you could’ve helped, just like you did with Angel.”
“How do you…?” Faith started to ask but was interrupted Ethan.
“There is little time. Its up to you. If you change your mind, he will be at the warehouse you fought the Beast in, you know the place, in about forty five minutes. I suggest you hurry.” And with that he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
“What do you think?” Connor asked with an edge to his voice.
“That we can’t trust this guy in the least. But he knows me, a little too well for my liking to be honest. And he’s right. I couldn’t stand it if someone happened to someone else I know on my watch. It might be a trap but I can’t take that chance. I’m going, you with me?”
“Don’t see where I really have a choice.” Connor replied. “Let’s go.”
“Alright, hold on, cause I’m gonna floor it.”
They sped off, not knowing what to expect. Faith knew this was probably a bad idea, but after what happened to Angel, she couldn’t take that chance.
*******************************
Andrew didn’t know why this was always happening to him. Getting kidnapped by vampires and dragged off to meet there master. It was really getting old. Now he was being dragged through some huge, dark warehouse.
They had grabbed him in one of the demon bars he had been asking about Faith in and tossed him into the trunk of a limo with nearly pitch black tinted windows in the alley behind the bar. He didn’t know exactly where they were now but he didn’t like it.
“Hey guys, I don’t suppose we could talk about this, could we? Like civilized, um, people.”
The vampires simply ignored him and dragged him toward the sewer entrance in the basement of the warehouse. Andrew had already given up trying to break free. He didn’t wanna get himself knocked out.
As they approached the stairs leading to the basement something came speeding through the warehouse and crashed into the two vampires not holding Andrew, sending them flying into a stack of crates. The other two stopped where they stood and watched the two figures dismount the motorcycle.
“Hey boys, is this a boys-only club or can this chick join in the fun?” the female figure said as she stepped into view.
“Faith, is that you? I’ve been looking all over for you.” Andrew said with a puppy dog look in his eyes.
“Andrew!? What the hell are you doing here?” Faith said with surprise.
‘Well, interesting story really, I…” Andrew started but was silenced when he was shoved down to the ground by one of the vamps holding him and then they charged at Faith.
“Step back junior, I can handle this.” Faith motioned to Connor as she stepped toward the vamps charging her.
Connor noticed the other two climbing out of the pile of crates. “Leftovers are fine with me I guess.” Connor said as he moved toward the dazed pair.
Faith took her fighting stance as the vampires circled around her. She tensed her muscles as they charged her from opposite sides, one with a fist, one with a foot.
Faith shifted her weight and narrowly dodged both attacks. She countered with an elbow to the face of one of the vamps. He stumbled backward as she spun around and kicked her other attacker in the groin who immediately doubled over in pain. A knee to the face sent him flying backwards to the floor landing on his back.
The first vampire recovered from the elbow and nailed Faith in the back with a kick as she moved to stake his partner. She stumbled forward but quickly regained her balance and turned to face him. “Now, now, its not nice to kick someone when they’re no looking.” Faith spit out as she flipped over his charge, causing him to land on top of his partner.
Connor wasn’t having much trouble either. He was using his speed to his advantage, easily avoiding his two opponent's attacks. “You know guys, this is really kinda pathetic.” Connor jumped into the air and landed a kick into the chest of both vampires. They reeled back and landed back into the crate pile.
“Well, I guess there’s no point in dragging this out.” Connor said as he bent down to pick up a shaft of wood from the ground. One of the vamps quickly charged at him upon seeing him go for the wood. Connor rolled under the vamp’s swing, grabbing the stake in the process, spun around, and staked him in the back. The vampire exploded into dust.
Faith, meanwhile, was easily dodging and countering both her attackers. She caught on of the vamp’s arms and swung him around, knocking him into his partner, and slamming them both into the wall. She quickly broke off a long piece of wood from one of the pallets strewn around the warehouse. With a lighting strike, she impaled them against the wall and they exploded into dust.
Connor saw this out of the corner of his eye. “She is amazing!” Connor thought to himself, taking his eyes off his opponent for a second, just long enough for the vamp to regain his composure and nail Connor across the face with a right cross. Connor was stunned and the vampire followed up with a knee to the stomach. He doubled over and was flipped over, landing on his back.
As the vamp moved in for the kill, Connor regained his senses and pushed the vamp off him with both his legs, sending him stumbling backwards. Connor flipped up to his feet and tossed the stake, nailing the vamp square in the chest and ending the fight. He looked over at Faith with cockiness, which she dismissed with a roll of her eyes.
Andrew got to his feet and dusted himself off. “Wow, you guys, I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I do.” Faith said with a slight edge to her voice. “You can tell me what the hell you are doing here in LA and why those vamps where dragging you around.”
“Well, I don’t really have an answer for what they wanted, they just grabbed me in while I was in some demon bar asking about you. As far as why I’m here, well, Giles sent me. He wanted…”
“…me to baby sit you, huh?” Faith finished.
“No, not that at all. He just didn’t think it would be a good idea for you to be alone right now. He’s just worried about you.”
“Well, that’s sweet and all, but as you can see, I’m not alone so you should probably head back. LA is not very nerd friendly as you can see.”
“Yes, but, I don’t really have a place back in England. C’mon. I can be helpful. Remember how great I was at keeping morale up back in Sunnydale. Please, Faith. I promise I won’t get in the way. Plus, I really don‘t have the money to…get back.” Andrew pressed his hands together and gave Faith his best puppy dog eyes.
“Why not Faith? At the very least, it looks like he could be somewhat entertaining to have around.” Connor said as he walked up beside her.
“Ah hell, I guess you can stick with us, but one screw up and its back to England you go, alright?”
“You got it. No screwing up here, boss.” Andrew jumped up and down, he was so glad he didn’t have to go back to boring old England. Faith might not really like the idea, but he was sure he could be of more help to her than he had been to the Scoobies. He figured if anyone needed a morale boost, it was Faith.
“Oh, and don’t call me boss.” Faith said over her shoulder as she headed over to her bike.
“Cool bike, can I ride?” Andrew asked.
“I don’t think so. You can drive, right? You and Connor take the limo those vamps used. Follow behind me and I guess we’ll head back to the hotel, see if Lorne has anything for us.”
Connor quietly agreed, although he would of much rather have gotten to ride on the bike with Faith again. He pictured himself on the bike with Faith and a slight smile went across his face. Faith noticed it and it quickly disappeared. He turned and blushed knowing he had been caught daydreaming. He just hopped Faith didn’t realize what he was dreaming about.
*********************************
As the group headed out of the warehouse, Zen stepped from the shadows. He had been watching the whole seen play out from the moment they had entered the warehouse.
“Well, I must say, this Slayer is indeed an interesting one. Darkness surrounds her. I can feel it coming off her in waves. It is beautiful.” Zen spoke to himself. One of his many quirks that the others of his race never really understood.
“An excellent warrior as well. I think I have just decided what my first course of action well be with this one. Her darkness is too alluring to ignore. I know she has embraced it once, but I think it is time she did so again. For good this time.” He smiled as he disappeared back into the sewers. He never had had such an attraction to one of his targets before, and he relished it. This was going to be very interesting indeed.
********************************
When Faith and the others reached the hotel, she had Andrew ditch the limo in an alley. It could bring attention that they didn’t want or need. Besides, after seeing Andrew drive, it was probably safer for everyone in the city.
“I’m telling you, it wasn’t my fault. I could barely see out the windows they were so dark.” Andrew said to Connor as they entered the hotel room. Lorne got up to greet them but thought better of it when he realized the bickering they were in the middle of.
“You almost killed us at least eight times.” Connor replied with more than a little irritation. He sat down in a chair across from the bed Lorne was sitting on.
“You two wanna shut it for a minute, before I put you both in intensive care.” Faith barked as she entered behind them. Connor and Andrew both crossed their arms and turned away from each other. Connor noticed t heir similar positions and quickly shifted his.
“God, if you two where like this the whole way back, I’m glad I didn’t ride with you. Might have killed you both.” Faith tossed her helmet on to the bed and walked over to Lorne. “Well, Lorne, please tell me you have some good news. This place is way to small for this bunch to survive together long.”
“Well, maybe. I have a place, but I’m not sure if your gonna like it. Lot of memories there.” Lorne said.
“I really don’t see where we have a choice green boy, where is it?”
‘It’s the Hyperion.” Lorne said flatly.
“What!?” Connor and Faith said in unison.
“Ya, it seems that Angel kept the lease paid up while working at Wolfram & Hart but kept it hidden from everyone just in case we needed to move back quickly.”
“And, how can we use it?” Faith asked.
“I have some contacts that can help us easily transfer it to your name and with the money we have we should be able to lease it for at least another six months. I have to say, Angel really did know how to cover his bases.”
“I can’t say I’m too happy with the idea. A lot of things there to remind me of Angel but, I guess we don’t really have a choice. The Hyperion it is then, unless anyone as any objections.” Connor and Andrew shook their heads.
“Okay then, everyone grab whatever you think you’ll need and lets head out. The sooner we do this and get settled in, the better.”
As Lorne and the others packed up what little they had, Faith hoped that going back to the Hyperion was the right choice. She knew its was their only real option, but the memories of Angel there, she just hoped she was strong enough to deal with it. She had to be.
