Learning Curve
by rebelrsr
Chapter Twenty-Two
[reviews]
Disclaimer: All things Buffy belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and lots of people in expensive suits. I'm not making any money here, just trying to create a happier Buffyverse for my favorite characters.
Spoilers, etc.: I altered the timeline of "The Yoko Factor," "Primeval," and Angel the Series "Sanctuary" with reckless abandon. It's mostly AU from here. Thanks to the best beta crew: Desirata41, Zenithar, and Zigpal I couldn't do it without you.
A/N: Thoughts enclosed by **. Flashbacks enclosed by //.
Archiving: By permission only
Faith waited just long enough to be sure the girls closed the panels behind her before making her way down the narrow corridor. At the end, she noticed a metal ladder leading down to another lab. Hesitating, the Slayer extended her senses. Bad idea. The feel of the demons from the containment cells poured through her. Faith yanked her barriers back into place with a curse. Knowing she couldn't stand there all night, she set her feet on the top rung and began to descend.
The Slayer paused at the bottom. A figure sat in one of the heavy metal chairs, his back to her. A man and woman in blood-stained white lab coats stood motionless next to a table with various cutting instruments. Swallowing her fear, Faith edged forward. "Riley!" she gasped in shock. Buffy's former boyfriend sat in the chair without restraint, yet he made no effort to stand. "Riley, hey, it's Faith." No response, "Yeah, OK, I know I got some apologies to make and all, but we need to get you out of here."
She realized there was something wrong when the Marine only looked at her in silence. "Hey, what's going on? Why won't you talk to me?"
"He can't. He's not programmed to respond." A deep, booming voice stated from across the room. "He's part of the final phase now." An enormous figure emerged from the shadows behind the two scientists. Green, textured skin merged with human skin, thanks to large staples.
"I'm guessing you're Adam," Faith said. Looking at the monster, she hoped the magic worked soon. No way could she take this thing with just normal Slayer power.
"I do not know you," Adam intoned.
Smirking, the Slayer responded, "Name's Faith. I'm a Slayer."
The freakish hybrid cocked his head to one side. "Ah. Interesting. I believed there could only be one of you at a time."
He paused and Faith waited impatiently for the enjoining spell to kick in. Nothing happened. *What the fuck's going on, Red? Longest five minutes of my life, here.*
"The other Slayer was supposed to be part of the final phase. You will take her place." Adam moved forward, stopping behind the gruesome pair in white coats.
"Sorry," the brunette said insincerely. Shrugging, she continued, "I don't jump through hoops on command. I've never really been one to toe the line."
Adam was just a few feet from the Slayer now. He paused at her statement, considering it. "Oh," he finally said. Then, looking past Faith's shoulder, "Kill her."
Strong hands gripped the teen's shoulders, lifting her off the ground. She tried to twist away, but found herself airborne instead. Her flight ended at the far wall. The impact drove the breath from her lungs, and she slid limply down the wall onto a cold steel table. Gasping, the Slayer scrambled down from her landing pad onto the floor. Taking a defensive stance, she waited for Riley to continue his attack. While she waited, Adam gave another command and the scientists also began to move. The woman turned on some kind of saw. Faith flinched at the sound.
"Hey, soldier boy, maybe this would be a good time to apologize for the whole 'being Buffy' thing," she said. The Marine continued his advance. The Slayer didn't have much time left to convince the young man to stand down. "Look, Riley, you need to think about what you're doing. I mean, I may be an evil psycho bitch, but the Tin Man beat your girlfriend so bad she was in the hospital. You really want to take orders from him?
Her words reached Riley. Faith could see his jaw clench, and sweat broke out on his forehead. Still, he lunged for the brunette. *Damn. I ain't killin' another human. Besides, B'd kick my ass if I bruised her boy toy before she got to break the news about Red.*
Avoiding the lunge, the Slayer grabbed a tank in a rack against the wall. Swinging sharply, she caught Riley under the chin. His head snapped back and he staggered, but didn't go down. Irritated now, Faith commented, "Geeze, just stop already. I ain't wanting to kill, but I got more important things to do, ya' know?"
She whipped the tank through the air a second time. A dull thud sounded as it made contact with the Marine's stomach. Riley doubled over. The Slayer was waiting for that, and hit the young man forcefully as he bent in half. Finally, he dropped to the floor, unconscious. Faith left him there and headed after Adam.
***
Buffy watched impatiently as Xander and Giles moved tables and equipment from the center of the room. As soon as enough space had been cleared, Tara and Willow pulled magical supplies from the duffel. The redhaired witch placed candles on the floor in a triangular pattern, lighting them with a brief chant and a wave of her hand. Tara poured granules of salt or sand on the ground, surrounding the burning candles in a circle. The blonde witch left about two feet of the circle incomplete.
"OK. We're ready," Willow announced, looking at her teacher for confirmation.
The older witch nodded. "Mrs. Summers, come into the Circle and sit in front of one of the candles." When Joyce had taken her assigned place, Willow dropped into a cross-legged position at another candle. Tara turned to the three remaining Scoobies. "Whatever happens, don't break the Circle. During the casting, we'll be vulnerable to mystical forces. As long as the barrier holds, they'll be locked out."
"I understand, my dear," Giles said. "I'll protect the sanctity of the Circle. Xander and Buffy will keep the more mundane dangers at bay."
The blonde Slayer glanced uneasily at her mother and her girlfriend. The young witch caught her eye and winked. Relaxing slightly, Buffy smiled back and moved toward the door. Xander joined her, tazer rifle in his hands.
"OK, then. We'll get started." Tara poured the last of the granules from the pouch, finishing the Circle. Standing straight and holding her hands out in supplication, she chanted. Wind blew softly through the sealed room, and the emergency lights flickered. Blue light sparkled from the Circle before rising in a shimmering curtain toward the ceiling. The blonde witch waited a moment for the shield to stabilize and then she took the remaining seat in the triangle.
Dimly, Buffy could hear her begin the spell.
"Power of the Slayer and all who wield it,
Last to Ancient First, we invoke thee.
Grant us thy Domain and Primal strength.
Accept us in the Powers we possess."
The wind stilled. The senior Slayer felt a tickle in the back of her mind. Energy flowed through her. *Fuck.* "Giles!" she called urgently. "I can feel the spell. Shouldn't the power be going to Faith?"
The ex-Watcher looked concerned. "Yes. Bloody hell. If the power splits, Faith won't be able to defeat Adam."
"Then I'll go after her. Two of us should be enough, even with only half the magic."
"No!"
"Giles, I can't just..."
"Buffy, you must stay here." He was adamant.
***
Inside the Circle, Tara was also aware of the problem. Sensing two descendents, the First Slayer was confused. Her strength split, trying to infuse both girls. That couldn't happen. Thinking quickly, the blonde witch opened herself fully to the other women in the spell.
*"Willow, Mrs. Summers, we have to focus the power on Faith. Concentrate on Faith,"* she thought through their link. Eyes closed, Tara couldn't see her companions, but she felt their agreement. Taking her own advice, the blonde called images of the Rogue Slayer to mind: the angry, mocking teen in Angel's apartment; the playful, sexy Slayer from the afternoon in the dorms; the focused fighter. The First Slayer responded to the images. Tara sensed the power moving from the room in search of its intended target.
Sighing soundlessly in relief, she continued with the incantation.
"Make us mind and heart and spirit joined.
Let the Hand encompass us.
Do thy Will."
The candle flames exploded toward the ceiling, and power rushed through the witch and the other two women. The force was so strong, it lingered in the air, visible. It was time to complete the bond. Turning over the top-most Tarot card at her side, the witch intoned,
"Spiritus, spirit."
She handed the next card to Mrs. Summers, who said,
"Animus, heart."
The third card was Willow's.
"Sophis, mind."
And, the final card. The blonde witch turned it upright.
"And Manus, the hand.
We enjoin that we may inhabit the Vessel,
The Hand, the Daughter of Cynea,
First of the Ones.
We implore Thee.
Admit us.
Bring us to the Vessel.
Take us, NOW!"
Tara felt the building essence of the First Slayer streak from the room. It was done. Now, they would have to wait for Faith's essence to join the link.
***
The brunette Slayer ran down the long corridor after her prey. Exiting abruptly into a control room, she spotted Adam watching the continued carnage in the base on a computer monitor.
"Fun, isn't it?" she commented.
The hybrid turned to face her, a frightening attempt at a smile creasing his face. "I do appreciate violence," he replied, moving toward her.
"Then you'll really like me," the Slayer quipped. She attacked quickly. Running straight at the creature, she leaped into the air a few feet from her target. At least, that's what she intended. Adam simply swatted her with his right arm, knocking her several feet back. The brunette hit the ground tucked into a ball and rolled safely to her feet.
Deciding to go all out, she flew at Adam and managed to land several kicks and punches before he seized her. With powerful movements, the demon-human hybrid slammed her against the computer console and then tossed her into the far wall.
Dazed, Faith lay there, watching the monster approach. A metal spike sprung out of his left arm. Jumping to her feet, she grabbed the spike and snapped it over her knee. Shuffling a few steps away, she taunted, "Hey, I just broke your arm."
A cold chill swept her body when Adam merely said, "That's OK, I've got another." He peered at a metal plate on his right arm. The plate popped up and Faith could see lights blinking on its surface. Suddenly, the human-looking hand morphed into a metal cylinder. After a moment of confusion, the Slayer realized it was a machine-gun style weapon.
*Holy fuck! * The brunette threw herself across the space, jumping over the control console as gun-fire chased behind. The Slayer huddled behind the equipment. It was over. Somehow, the spell hadn't worked. Sending a silent apology to her witch and the Scoobies in Room 314, Faith vowed to go down fighting. Crouching, she waited for Adam to approach.
Her head snapped back and a scream tore from her throat. Raw power seared her veins. Dimly, through the roar of her heartbeat, Faith felt the three women acting as the anchors to the spell. She stood just as the console in front of her exploded.
"You can't last much longer," Adam said.
"We can." Faith wasn't in control any more. The words, the power, came from the combined strengths of the group. "We are forever."
The Tara/Willow essences chuckled at Adam's look of confusion. Strange words in an unknown language fell from Faith's lips.
"Interesting," the monster commented. He raised his weapon and fired straight at the Slayer.
The tiny portion of Faith still self-aware screamed in fear. But the bullets never reached her. More words of magic spewed from her mouth and a barrier of air halted the rain of metal slugs.
Looking shocked, Adam muttered, "Very interesting."
*That's an understatement,* Faith thought to herself. The Slayer felt Tara's amusement at her internal comment.
Adam continued to fire into the magical barrier, looking more and more concerned. Finally, he sent a small missile at the Slayer.
Faith felt a new rush of power. The missile changed into white doves before hitting her chest. *Wicked cool! *she thought at the others. A trio of smiles and laughter greeted the thought.
*"Let's end this,"* the Slayer 'heard' Willow say.
The brunette's hand lifted and moved in a circular motion. Adam's metal arm returned to its more human guise. The two enemies walked toward one another. The monster attacked first, and if Faith had been more self-aware, she would have been awed at her own speed in evading the blows. Adam overextended, and the enjoined Slayer saw her opening. Lashing out in a series of kicks fueled by the primal energy of the First Slayer, Faith hammered at Adam. He went to his knees, driven down by the blows.
"How?" he gasped out, Faith's hand around his throat.
The Vessel responded, "You can never hope to grasp the Source of our Power." She flung him effortlessly across the room and followed. Pinning the hybrid against the wall, Faith drove her hand into the monster's chest. Fishing around inside, the Slayer grasped the power source and ripped it from its moorings. She stared at the glowing cylinder in her hand for a moment. "But yours is right here." The anchors urged action. Magic flowed through the link; chanting again sounded in Faith's rough voice. The power pack rose in the air, hovered for a moment, and disappeared in a flare of white light.
The Slayer gazed blankly at the empty air. Suddenly, the primal energy left her body, and the she crumpled to the ground.