~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So do we call you Dead-girl now?” Xander asked Cordelia.
LaCroix smirked with satisfaction as Angel visibly stiffened, his eyes flashing with anger.
“If you don’t mind being totally wrong,” Cordelia returned. “Oh, look who I’m talking to, go right ahead.”
“I shall be returning to Los Angeles. I wish to look into this Glory.” At the hell-goddess’ name LaCroix’s voice sank into a threatening snarl. “Cordelia, see if you can keep Angelus out of trouble until his visit to this place is concluded.”
“I escaped on my own,” Angel pointed out.
“This time Mon Fils, but you are such a magnet for trouble and you’re only mortal,” LaCroix said. “For the moment.”
“Forever,” Buffy contradicted LaCroix.
“Mortality is never forever, girl,” LaCroix said coldly.
“Why are you investigating Glory?” Giles asked.
“I don’t care for loosing,” LaCroix said.
“We… um… would appreciate it if you would let us know anything you learn about her as well,” Giles stammered, feeling like he was making a deal with the devil.
“Certainly,” LaCroix replied, the glint in his eyes showing that he knew precisely what Giles was thinking.
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For a brief second sparks lit the darkness, they reflected off gleaming bits of metal.
“So this is what it feels like to be a vamp,” a deep, perpetually sardonic voice said. “Buried alive, I guess that’s another thing I can thank Finn’s girl for.”
Once again the crack of metal meeting concrete sounded muted in the tight confines.
The voice broke into an evil chuckle as the concrete began to crumble under the repeated blows.
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“Cordy’s cure was to get vamped,” Buffy said. “You sort of forgot to mention that.”
“Didn’t seem to be a good time,” Angel replied
“But she’s still good?” Buffy asked.
“Yes.”
“And you’re not thinking maybe LaCroix had ulterior motives?”
“He openly admits it.”
“You’re not tempted or anything, right?” Buffy asked.
Angel smiled at her. “Why should I be, I’m doing fine as a human.”
“You are aren’t you,” Buffy said. “You did get away from Glory with nothing worse than a bump on the head.”
“Buffy, Glory’s tough sure, but she’s not all powerful,” Angel said. “She’s vain, stupid and unstable. You can’t slug it out with her, but that doesn’t mean you can’t beat her. When she went after LaCroix’s mind we didn’t stop her with brute force. Which isn’t to say he didn’t try. LaCroix isn’t used to running into anything stronger than he is, he’s two thousand years old; you know vampires only get stronger with age. When that didn’t work he called on Cordy and I plus a couple of others I didn’t know and he threw all that power at her, which didn’t work either. We still won though. We sent her chasing after shadows and illusions, she got frustrated and impatient. She blustered around for a while; did some random damage then withdrew in a huff. We won’t beat her by playing to her strengths Buffy, but she’s got plenty of weakness to exploit.”
“Sounds like I’m getting a dose of my own medicine here,” Buffy said with a sigh. “I miss the old days when I could just pound the baddies into dust.”
“We’ve got a body,” Angel said, pointing to a hand sticking out from under a bush.
“I hate this part of being the Slayer,” Buffy said as they moved to investigate.
“We’ll deal with whatever it is,” Angel said solemnly.
As they rounded the bush Buffy froze at the sight of a dissected, inhuman corpse. “Deja vu of the worst sort,” she said.
“What?” Angel asked.
“This, it looks like Adam’s MO, but not even the Initiative would be stupid enough to build another of those,” Buffy explained.
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“How’d I get nominated to patrol with you?” Cordelia asked.
“Because no one else wanted a vampire for a partner Ducks,” Spike replied. “You’d better get used to being treated like a leper, cause in their eyes, that’s what you are now.”
“Hostile 17, been looking for you.”
Cordelia and Spike turned to stare at the six-foot collection of spare parts and bits of bare metal gleaming through charred flesh.
“Well if it isn’t Mr. Bits the second,” Spike said. “Looking a tad more assorted than usual.”
“You know this patchwork quilt of eew?” Cordelia asked. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Hostile 17 and I go way back,” Forrest said. “In fact he owes me an eye.”
“So that’s why you’re chopping people, and others, up, for replacement parts?” Cordelia asked.
“My old pal Riley did some damage with that fire ball,” Forrest said flexing one fist, showing the metal substructure showing beneath the burned flesh. “Course the eye is curtsey of your boyfriend there, seems fitting he should provide the replacement.”
“Well, info gathering over,” Spike said turning to run.
“He’s not my boyfriend!” Cordelia protested vehemently.
Forrest started after Spike but after only a few steps it was obvious he’d never catch up. “Well you’re still here,” he said turning to Cordelia. “Yours’ll even match brown-eyes.”
“I think not,” Cordelia said rising to hover in the air a few feet out of his reach. “What is it with people wanting to gore out my eyes anyway?”
“Hey! Come down from there,” Forrest said pointing at Cordelia, a gun barrel erupting from his arm.
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“Ow,” Cordelia moaned, squirming as Angel used tweezers to extract the bullet embedded in her shoulder. “Getting shot really hurts, even now.”
“It’s something to be avoided as much as possible,” Angel said. “Even if it can’t kill you it’s never a pleasant experience.”
“I’ll be sure to add it to my list of things not to try again, right below being impaled with a rebar.”
“Impalement is one of the more important things to avoid, especially if wood is involved,” Angel replied. “Got it.”
Cordelia whimpered as he extracted the bullet. “We didn’t really treat you like leper back when I was in high school did we?” she asked a moment later.
“What brought this on?” Angel asked.
“That’s what Spike said they’d treat me like, because of… you know,” Cordelia said. “And you’re avoiding the question aren’t you.”
“It’s not the same situation Cordy,” Angel said. “You know how good I am at socializing. I avoided them as much as they avoided me. You’ll be fine. Just give them a chance to get use to the idea of you being a vampire.”
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“Forrest is back?” Buffy asked.
“Former Initiative flunky turned the son of Adam? Yeah, that’d be our new mate” Spike reported.
“So we’re going to do a repeat of combo-Buffy?” Xander asked.
“I’m afraid the First Slayer wouldn’t co-operate again,” Giles said.
“He’s probably just a cheap copy anyway,” Willow said hopefully.
“Hey, look everyone, vamp-girl’s back,” Xander said as Cordelia and Angel returned from the training room.
“Are you alright?” Willow asked.
Cordelia smiled and gingerly flexed her arm. “The bullet’s gone, the bleeding’s stopped, the pain is fading. Some times I really like being a vampire.”
“Cordelia told me what we’re up against,” Angel said, glaring at Xander. “Do we have a plan?”
“We need to immobilize him long enough to get to his battery out,” Buffy said.
“I could try whamming him,” Cordelia suggested. “He didn’t seem like the mentally focused type.”
“You could really make a person stand still while we cut a vital part out?” Xander asked. “That’s pretty cool… in a very scary way.”
“LaCroix could,” Cordelia said. “I can try.”
“Cor…” Angel objected.
“You’re the one who’s always going on about how you have to keep taking risks Angel.” Cordelia said. “Well I have to do this. What’s the point of having these nifty powers if I don’t use them?”
“We’re going to practice,” Angel said firmly.
“Okay, so Cordy tries this hypno-thing. If it works I move in with cutting implements,” Buffy said. “If not Cordelia flies off, no harm done.”
“Minus a few more bullets in her,” Angel cautioned.
“It won’t kill her. She’s a vampire, so who really cares anyway?” Xander said.
Angel grabbed Xander by the arm and dragged him back toward the training room. “Could we talk?” he asked grimly then sent Xander stumbling ahead of him. Angel shut the door behind them.
“What was that about?” Anya asked.
Cordelia felt herself trying to blush as Spike explained, “Peaches is threatin’ bodily harm to the twit if he doesn’t knock off with the vampire cracks. Must be fun getting ta to get even for all of Xander’s crap in the name of chivalry.”
“God, this is embarrassing. Couldn’t they have picked someone else to go all macho over?” Cordelia asked.
“If Xander’s involved in macho posturing it should be over me,” Anya declared, stalking to the closed door and throwing it open.
“You know, I hate to sound like Anya,” Buffy said. “But this time I have to agree, any stupid testosterone displays my boyfriend gets into should be about me.”
“So it’s unanimous,” Anya said, stepping through the door to glare at Xander and Angel. “If you two want to fight over a girl it has to be about Buffy or I, preferably me.”
“Cordy’s family,” Angel said. “That means I get to defend her. Right Xander?”
“You know ex-Deadboy, the growl’s less impressive now that you’re human,” Xander said irritably.
“Excuse me,” Cordelia interjected, noticing the angry glitter in Angel’s eyes. “I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I’m sorry Cordy,” Angel said. “But he doesn’t have any right to treat you like that.”
“Why not?” Xander asked. “I do it to you and Deadboy jr., why should Vamp-girl be any different?”
“Because she’s Cordy in every way that counts,” Angel replied hotly. “And unlike Spike and I, she hasn’t killed anyone, so just drop it already!”
“Maybe we should get to work on the plan,” Buffy suggested awkwardly.
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“Practice, right,” Cordelia said. “Are you sure about this Angel?”
“I’m sure,” Angel said.
“So should I tell you what I’m going to make you do?” Cordelia asked.
“Probably not,” Angel said. “Just try not to embarrass me too much okay?”
“It’s a deal,” Cordelia said. “Wanna try?”
“Let’s do it,” Angel said sitting down across the table from her.
Cordelia concentrated; let the sound of Angel’s heartbeat fill her senses. Once it steadied she met his eyes and immediately exploded into laughter.
“What?” Angel asked.
“Okay, let’s try again, without the giggles,” Cordelia said. She forced herself to calm down and caught his heartbeat again. Then she met his eyes and watched them loose focus.
“I guess that makes it truth or dare time,” Cordelia muttered. “Okay Angel, remember back before I knew about you being a vampire?”
“Yes,” Angel replied expressionlessly.
“I used to try to get you to notice me, what was I doing wrong?”
“Nothing.”
Cordelia blew out a breath in an exasperated sigh, “I was certain it was working.”
Cordelia reached for Angel’s heartbeat again, but to her surprise it was still perfectly steady, slow and even, just like it was supposed to be. “Okay, let’s try another question. Why didn’t you notice me?”
“You weren’t Buffy.”
“Maybe it did work,” Cordelia said consciously letting Angel’s mind go. “Did it work Angel?”
“It did,” He replied shaking off the last of the effect. “Now try again, this time I’m not gong to make it easy for you… and next time, go for dare.”
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“I think we should be aiming for maximum carnage,” Buffy said. “Even if Cordy’s idea works I think Forrest will snap out of it when I start cutting into him. Giles do you still have that chainsaw from last Halloween?”
“Are you sure Buffy? A chainsaw makes a clumsy weapon,” Giles warned.
“Plus you hit one of his metal parts it’ll be the same as trying to cut into a spiked tree,” Xander said. “You could get hurt.”
“So what do you advise?” Buffy asked.
Giles dug through his weapons chest and produced a long elegant sword.
“Wow, pretty,” Buffy said testing the balance. “But looking for big damage, remember?”
“It’s a katana, Buffy. Watch the edge, it will cut through almost anything.” Giles said.
“Like a light-saber, only without the cool sound effects?” Xander asked.
“Precisely,” Giles said.
Buffy and Xander both stared at him in slack jawed amazement. “You got a cultural reference,” Buffy stammered.
“Please, I was in my twenties when Star Wars came out, of course I’ve seen it.”
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“We’re ready?” Cordy asked.
“Ready,” Buffy said. “As soon as we’ve got a place we’ll be on our way.”
“It worked!” Willow exclaimed and Tara shifted uncomfortably. “Last year we tried this spell to find Adam and it kerplooied, but look!” She pointed to the map of Sunnydale drawn in sand on the table, a concentrated spot of red grains moved across the campus.
Buffy sheathed her katana, “Let’s get this over with,” she said.
Cordelia studied the map for a few moments more then walked out the door. “Wish us luck guys,” she said wrapping an arm around Buffy’s waist then the two girls lifted off.
Cordelia touched down a few yards from Forrest’s position and the two girls approached on foot.
While Buffy waited in the shadows Cordelia stepped out to confront the monstrosity. She reached out with her mind, but more than one rhythm defined the creature before her.
“The flying chick,” Forrest said smiling evilly as he recognized her. “Wonder if I could add that ability to my arsenal. Cutting you up is going to be a pleasure.”
Cordelia picked what seemed to be the major pulse and made eye contact. “Freeze,” she commanded.
Forrest’s advance ground to a halt. Buffy waited a few seconds, but when he remained statue-like she moved forward, sword held high.
Cordelia felt the secondary pulse go wild. “Hurry up!” she yelled. Then the primary pulse faltered, Forrest’s eyes gained focus.
The gun in his forearm popped out and he began to turn. Cordelia lunged forward and grabbed his arm with both hands. Multiple shots exploded into her chest at point blank range. Still Cordelia retained her hold on him even as she collapsed.
Buffy swung the sword; it passed through Forrest’s body just above his power source. The two halves joined Cordelia on the ground. Buffy spotted the glowing battery shining through the gore and ripped it out. “I guess we’ll have to take it back to Willow for disposal this time,” she said.
“Did we win?” Cordelia asked in a pained whisper.
“Oh god, Cordy!” Buffy exclaimed. She dropped to her knees beside Cordelia. “You’ll be okay, bullets can’t kill you anymore,” she stammered.
“Hurts,” Cordelia whimpered blood sweat dotting her forehead.
“I’ll get help. Just hang on,” Buffy promised.
Cordelia coughed violently, bringing up blood. Then her eyes fluttered shut.
“Stay with me,” Buffy begged, shaking the other girl to no effect. Desperately Buffy cut her hand on the sword blade and let her blood run into Cordelia’s mouth.
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“Is she going to be alright?” Buffy asked as LaCroix descended from Giles’ loft.
“Cordelia will recover,” he said and the whole group released a collective sigh of relief. “I find that I am in your dept Slayer. Cordelia was too young to survive that magnitude of damage alone, your blood kept her stabilized long enough for me to return.”
“No you’re not,” Buffy replied. “Cordy’s one of us. What I did, it had nothing to do with you.”
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