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Initiative	By : wright99 Category: BtVS AU/AR > FemmeSlash - Female/Female Views: 9187 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS), nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
Disclaimer: Second verse same as the first. this is not your poppa's sunnydale there will be M/F F/F pairings. adult sexual situations and violence maybe even some drugs. you know, the good stuff.

oh, and Joss Whedon owns all.

Feedback: God please yes

A/N Willow Rosenberg will now be played by Rory Wilkens and Angel will now be played by Liam McConnell. if you read it all will become clear. i hope

Well, on with the show.

Initiative, Part 13

-1-

" Hello, where am I?"
The Anne bot startles both Willow and Giles when it suddenly awakens. Sitting up, completely nude, it looks at Willow. A flash seems to go off in Willow's brain.
" Rory? RORY! HELLO!"
" Where am I?" The red-headed college student lifts her head off the desk. She feels herself being shaken.
"Rory Wilkins, what's your problem? You're sleeping in class, again!" Claire Woolstone shakes her friend again. " You know what Prof. Dzundsky said if you caught you sleeping again."
" Geeze, it's not like I'm not doing the work. It's just those damn dormies of mine. I swear, all they do is party. All night long. How the hell is a girl supposed to sleep?"
" Try the library," Claire cracks, " I hear they have couches in the back."
" Funny, C. A real hoot," Rory shakes her head.
" Speaking of the work�" Claire looks at her friend expectantly.
" I've got it, I've got it, " Rory, feeling harried, looks through her papers. " It's here, somewhere�"
" God, Rory, you're such a mess. You need a maid� or a wife, " Claire giggles. She helps her friend look, and pulls up a sheaf of papers triumphantly. " Got it!" She looks at the papers, disgustedly. " You ever hear of folders?"
" Hey, if maybe YOU helped me once in awhile on these joint projects of ours�" Rory complains.
" C'mon, you know how I am about physics. Like, I can't tell a weak force from a quark�" She sees the lecture look in Rory's eyes. " Don't. You're just wasting your breath."
" So, why'd you take physics, then?" Rory shakes her head, trying to wake up.
" Thought it'd be cool, and you were in it, and it satisfies the science requirement."
" And you knew I'd write your papers."
" Well� yeah."
" So, Ms. Wilkins, you decided to join us in the land of the awake, then?" Professor Dzundsky, a tall , lean figure with a penchant for the sarcastic, stands overlooking the pair. " May I take it you have the paper you were assigned?"
" Got it, Doc, " Rory says, handing the papers to professor.
Prof. Dzundsky wrinkles his nose in disgust. " This is hardly acceptable, Ms. Wilkins. You know work is to be bound in a folder, and have an index and foot notes."
" Oh� wait�" Rory pulls out her bag, rummaging through it. She pulls out a few more sheets of paper. " Here you go, footnotes and index" She smiles up at him.
" Well, better. But I really want this in a cover. I'll expect it tomorrow morning, and I'll only dock a few points for lateness�"
" It's not late!" Rory complains.
" It's not ready to be handed in, " Dr. Dzundsky waves the papers in front of Rory and Claire, letting them drop." It's late."
He walks away, collecting the other students' projects.
" Not cool, Rory, " Claire complains, " I can't afford a lower grade."
" And I can? This is my major, after all. You're just here as the comic foil, " Rory snaps.
" Hey!" Claire looks hurt.
" Sorry, just tired� cripes, what does that nazi expect from me, anyway?" Rory shakes her head, " not like the others in here even come close to me in � aw, forget it." She sighs. " So, get a cover, get it bound, and make it pretty?"
" Gee, I gotta do all the work," Claire complains.
" Yeah, you poor baby."
"All right, then, " Prof. Dzundsky addresses the group, " I have your assignments. Hopefully, most of them will be interesting enough to keep me awake while I grade them. Now, if any of you have any last minute work to catch up, you can spend the rest of the time finishing up. The rest of you are free to leave for the day. Except, there are a few students I would like to see before you leave. Ms. Wilkins, if you would step up to the front, please."
" Aw crap, now what?" Rory complains to Claire. She stands up, seeing the eyes of the students glued to her. Teacher's pets gonna finally get it was the mood in the class.
" Ok, Doc, I'm here, " Rory stands, hands behind her back. " What's the problem?" She suddenly feels weak and woozy. Gripping the edge of the desk, she holds herself up.
" I think Ms. Wilkins, we need to have a conference about your overall performance in class. It's no secret your brilliant, Rory. But lately, you're work has been less than stellar. You've been late, your work is sloppy, and� Rory? What's wrong?
" Rory? RORY?"

" WILLOW!" Giles says, shaking the young red-headed girl vigorously. " Are you quite well?"
" Huh? What? Mr. Giles? What're you doing here?" Willow looks around, and realizes she's NOT in a college lecture class.
" Doing here? We're trying to reactivate Anne� which seems to have happened. But then you went off somewhere."
" Huh?" Willow is still confused between flash and reality.
Dr. Giles looks concerned. He comes over to Willow, and starts poking around, looking into her eyes.
" Ok, Giles, you get any more personal, and I want dinner and a ring, you know?" Willow jokes defensively.
" Willow this is serious, " He pulls out his stethoscope and places it on her chest. " Have you been blacking out a lot?"
" What? Blacking out?" Willow waves her hand. " Geeze, no! I'm just tired, Giles. We nearly got all shot up by the Initiative, remember? I just didn't sleep well, and �uh� I zoned out. Don't get all Mommy like on me."
" Hmmm," Giles hasn't found anything off. " I'd like to do further testing on you. I'm a little worried about you."
" Giles! I'm tired. Just lets get back to work, " Willow says, dismissing his concerns. And freaking a little. What was that daydream about?
" Maybe we should call it off for now, let you get some rest," Giles looks at her worriedly. " I don't like how that shoulder wound is healing."
" No! This could be important Giles. Just take a chill pill, and let's get back to work." She turns back to the Anne-bot, who's sitting up, fully unclothed. Wow, isn't she something? Willow thinks to herself, seeing the rather comely appearance of the bot. She feels a slight flush go through her as she realizes she's attracted to the 'bot's beauty. She a machine, Will. Geeze, that's just� nasty!
" Well, Anne, it seems you've made a full recovery, " Giles is studiously avoiding looking at the 'bot. " Ahem, you're not cold or anything, are you?"
" No, of course not, Dr. Giles. I'm just naked. I don't feel cold like you and Ms. Rosenberg do." Anne answers truthfully. " Oh. Is it because I'm naked? Does that embarrass you?"
" Excuse me?" Willow pipes up. She too is avoiding looking at Anne.
" Yes, Ms. Rosenberg? How can I assist you?"
" Well for one, my name? How do you know my name?"
" Oh, don't be silly, Ms. Rosenberg. I know the names and faces of all the personnel and subject of the initiative. It's hard-wired into my permanent memory chips."
" Really?" Giles is intrigued. " What other information do you have?"
" Oh, I have all the information I downloaded from the Initiative databanks during my tenure with the project. The entire Project Moreau file. And, since I snuck in one night, in my previous incarnation, the personal notes and diaries of the director, one Dr. Marguerite Walsh." The Anne-bot frowns. " I really wish you two would look at me. It's hard to have a dialogue to your backs."
Willow is looking at her hands, trying not to look at the blond 'bot. She feels her ears turn red.
" Well, it's rather disconcerting to look at you in your present state, Anne, " Giles says, looking at the wall.
" Oh yes, it's the naked thing, isn't it?" Anne responds. " Well, I usually find people are much more relaxed after sex. Would you like to have sex, Dr. Giles?"
Giles turns a bright red, and makes a rather interesting choking noise. Willow for her part bursts out laughing, somewhat embarrassed for the both of them.

" Oh, don't feel left out, Ms. Rosenberg. I quite enjoy sex with females too. You are free to join in, if you wish?" Anne smiles brightly in her direction.
Willow feels a blush from her head to toes. Gosh, exactly what did this madman program into this bot? And why am I blushing like a fool? " No� no� that's ok. I have a girlfriend."
" Yes, of course. Faith. Your biological and genetically enhanced mate. She can join in also, if she wishes." Anne-bot smiles at her. " Actually, considering her modifications, it might prove quite interesting."
" Modifications?" Giles asks, befuddled." What would those be?"

" Oh, didn't you know, Dr. Giles? Faith was enhanced with the ability to �." Anne bots finds a small hand blocking her mouth. She looks at Willow questioningly.
" Well, that isn't important now, is it?" Willow says. Jeepers that was close! " I really think we should put that idea on hold for now, and get back to �" Willow tries to divert the subject.
" Oh, I understand. You think because I'm an android, I don't have the proper equipment. I assure you, Dr. Rayne was very careful to create biological sexual organs for me, including a clitoris. Trust me, they are fully functional. Would you like to inspect them?"
"As fascinating as I'm sure that would be, " Giles, having recovered some of his equanimity, replies, " I think for now we have to concentrate more on the data you've recovered. But, if you please, if you'd wear this? It would make things go a bit more smoothly, " Giles holds out a blanket to her.
" Of course," Anne takes the blanket and drapes it over herself. " Maybe we can have sex later?"
" Yes, later, " Giles replies dryly.
" So, how can I assist you? What would you like to know?"
Giles and Willow look at each other. Goldmine!

-2-

Faith stands under the stream of hot water, luxuriating in the feel of it on her skin.
After last night's little foray, and the resultant all nighter, she's pooped. She's hoping the water will revive her. Never mind she feels stinky, especially with the rather pungent odor of cat. She's still somewhat freaked about what happened last night, turning into a cat. Well, let's hope we don't see that too often.
Grabbing the soap and a body sponge, she begins to soap herself. Looking down, her attention is brought to her penis, which due to her exhaustion, is flaccid. Still, it's rather on the impressive size. I'm never gonna get used to that. How do boys get used to looking at that floppy thing? And exactly what nut decided to put one on a girl? I mean, c'mon, what? Did you run out of boy genes to play with? Or did you really just want to make my life hard? No pun intended!
Her reverie is disturbed by a loud knocking at the bathroom door.
" Hey, occupado!" Faith calls out.
" Faith. It's Oz. Hey, can I come in and pee?"
" Can't it wait?" Faith calls out, " I'm in here showering!"
" Really can't, " Oz says, sounding urgent. "I'm well beyond the pee-pee dance."
" I'm naked Oz, for god's sake. Hold it for just a little longer."
" Faith, I really can't. Please, or I'm gonna wet the floor." Oz sound desperate, " anyway, you're behind a shower curtain. I'm not gonna peek. Can you say gross?"
" Alright, alright. Come in. Just do your biz and go."
" Thanks, Faith, you're the best."
Oz quickly opens the door, and zooms for the toilet. After a brief struggle with the zipper, Faith hears a rather strong stream of water hitting water.
" Geeze, why didn�t you take care of that earlier?" Faith, always curious and never a shy violet, peeks out through the curtains at Oz. Mine's bigger she thinks to herself. Oh god, now I'm doing comparisons. How guy can you get? She closes the curtain before Oz notices.
" So , where is everybody?" Oz asks, flushing the toilet.
" I dunno. Buffy and Angel are around here somewhere. Probably macking on each other. Those crazy kids. And Red is down with Giles, playing mad scientist."
" Huh?"
" Oh, didn't you know? When we busted you out, they recovered a robot thingie from the lab."
" I didn't think Dr. Walsh was doing robots, " Oz said, standing and watching the shower. He could make out Faith's outline. Man, she's a hottie. OZ! She's your cousin! This is no time for those kinda thought, perv-o!
" Don't think it was Walsh's bot. I think Giles said it was created by an Ethan Rayne."
" Rayne? Why does that name sound familiar?" Oz struggles to remember.
" Don't know, don't care. All I know is that the two of them are down checkin' out that thing, giggling like a couple of kids with a new toy."
" Gee, you sound just a little jealous, Faith."
" Did you see that thing, Oz? I got a glimpse of it. It's shaped like a woman� and a damned hot looking woman, at that."
" So?"
" So? I don't like the idea of my girlfriend getting all excited over that �. Thing."
" What's wrong, Faith? Afraid Willow's gonna dump you for Roberta the robot?" Oz laughs.
" Don't be an ass, Oz, " Faith growls. " Make yourself useful and hand me a towel, I mean, if your gonna hang around, I can't exactly get out this way!" She pokes her hand out of the shower.
" Ok, ok, " Oz goes over across the bathroom to the towel bar. " Faith's jealous of a robot" He sings, teasing her.
" Yeah, well, keep that up, and you're gonna need some bionic parts to hold your wiseass together." She shakes her hand impatiently. "C'mon already, I'm turning into a prune in here!"
No one notices the little puddle of water that's formed by the shower from Faith's hand. Oz, a little chastened, hurries back with the towel. His shoe hits the puddle and he overbalances, trying not to fall. He falls toward the shower, grabbing the shower curtain to stop himself. It pulls off its rings, and all of a sudden there is a very naked Faith staring down at a rather embarrassed Oz.
" Geeze, Oz you klutz!" Faith makes a grab at the curtain to cover up.
Not before Oz notices a rather odd thing on his cousin's anatomy. He looks up at her.
" Ummm. Faith? What's that?"
" What's what?" Faith asks, defensively.
" That!" He points at her groin area.
" Oh for god's sake, Oz. I mean, you slept with Veruca for a long time. Don't you know what a vagina looks like?"
" I do, and that isn't what I saw!" He reaches for the curtain.
" Hey. HEY!" Faith bats his hands away, " Private stuff there. PRIVATE STUFF!"
But it's too late. Oz grabs the edge of the curtain, and pulls it away from Faith's hips. He reveals Faith's little secret. He looks at it, then scrambles back away from Faith.
" Holy CRAP, Faith! What the hell is that?" Oz is now at the other side of the room.
" Geeze, Oz. It�s not like you haven't seen a dick before." Faith blushes, covering up.
" Yeah, but not on my cousin. My GIRL cousin!"
" Well, now you have. So, wanna go away now?" Faith is embarrassed, ashamed and getting angry. " Not like I really wanted you in here doing an inspection."
" But how� where� when did this happen?"
" Well, gee, Oz, one night I lost a tooth, and the tooth fairy brought it for me."
" Faith!"
" Ok, ok, " Faith says, briefly explaining how this came about. Oz's eyes go wide.
" You're telling me you met Willow one night, and boom, it just grew in?"
" Something like that, yeah."
" That musta hurt."
" No, but I was wearing tight, skin tight jeans. THAT hurt!" Faith giggles, embarrassed. Geeze, I can't believe I'm talking to my cousin about this. She shivers.
" You cold?" Oz sees the shiver.
" Yeah, so think you could go now?"
" Ok, I'm gone." He walks to the door, then stops. " Think I could see it again?" He asks.
" NO!" Faith yells. Then she says in a calmer voice, " no, geeze, Oz, it's not like an exhibit. Just go, ok?"
" I'm just curious. It's not every day you see a girl with a penis, you know." He ponders. " Does it like, work?"

" What the hell does that mean?" Faith is flustered by all this.
"Well, does it like� do you pee through it?" Oz asks, staring at her crotch.
" Would you stop staring at me?" Faith bristles." Yes, I pee through it. Happy now?"
" Don't get all Veruca on me, Faith, " Oz bristles back.
" Oz, you're really not making me love you more right now, " Faith shakes her head, " Comparing me to that skanky ho�" She realizes that Oz loved that skanky ho, and stops. " Sorry, man. Just this is wigging me out."
" No, that's ok. You're right. She was a skanky ho. I just didn't see that when I was with. I guess I didn't want to see it." Oz frowns.
" Hey, man, you were in love, it's cool. I get it. I know what it can do to you, " Faith smiles, thinking of Willow.
" Yeah, maybe. But I was stupid. She never loved me back, I got that now. I'm a total dork."
" Naw," Faith says, " Just my dope of a cousin."
" Can I ask another question?"
" Is this about my penis?"
" Yeah," Oz grimaces, waiting for the explosion.
" Fuck, why not?" Faith shrugs. " You sure looked goofy when you saw it." She chuckles.
"Well, was a bit of a shock Faith. I mean, if you weren't my cousin � you're a major league hottie, and you got a �"
" Yeah, ok, I know. I'm kinda used to it by now�sorta"
" Well, I wanna know� do you� I mean when you're with Willow�does it? Work? Get hard?"
" Yeah, and to answer the next question, it spits out boy juice. So, are we done here now?"
" What're we gonna do now, Faith?" Oz asks out of the blue.
" Ummm. You're leaving, and I'm gonna dry off and get dressed."
" No, I mean with our lives. What're we gonna do now?"
" Look, Oz? I'm not like the boss. All I know is , soon as I can, I wanna pack up, grab Willow, and get the heck outta this place."
"So, you and Willow? You're really like a couple?"
" Couple of what?" Faith teases.
" You know what I mean, " Oz frowns, " I mean, I thought all that mating stuff was programmed in."
" I dunno, Oz. Maybe the attraction thing. But I really love her� you know? I can't think of life without her, " Faith gets a little dreamy eyed. Then she snaps back." But I� we� gotta get outta here." She shakes her head. " Those freaks might come back looking for us."
" I thought we were the freaks, " Oz says. His eyes have wandered to Faith's covered crotch again.
" Not like them� oh Jesus, Oz, you're doing it again!" Faith barks at him. She shakes her head , and impulsively pulls back the bunched curtain. Taking her penis in hand, she holds it up for him. " Ok, satisfied? Just like yours."
Oz turns red." I'm sorry, It's just so�so�" He shrugs.
" Ya know, Oz, your interest is bordering on the fanatical here. I'm beginning to think you're gaying out on me here."
" Well, if guys looked like you, I'd definitely be gay, " Oz smirks.
" Ok, now this is just getting way to weird. First gay now incestuous. We're cousins, remember?"
" No, we're not. Just another lie they told us, Faith."
" Yeah, well, I think of you as my cousin, so �" She covers up again. " Scoot, get lost. I want to get out now."
" Yeah, got it, " Oz stands and turns. " Later couz."
Something in his voice catches Faith's ear.
" Oz, what about you? What you gonna do?"
" Dunno, Faith. Not like I got anywhere to go. Guess I'll stick."
" Oz, you can't. They're bound to come looking for us. They'll get you."
He shrugs. " So? Who cares?"
" Well, I do, or didn't you notice when I was busting you out?"
He stops, back still turned to Faith. " I'm a freak, Faith. I shouldn't even be alive. But I am." He turns around. " I'm a fucking wolf-boy, Faith. I hate me, being me. I really don't care what they do to me." He turns and walks to the door.
" Oz, man, don't. You can't think that way. You don't deserve to die, honey. " She stands up, not caring about modesty anymore. She goes to her cousin, and holds him.'" Baby, I'm a freak too. I turn into a big cat, you know? So, you're not alone, baby. We freaks gotta stick together." She hugs him.
He looks at her, her face. " Faith, you've got Willow. Buffy's got Angel. I've got� nothing. At least, Veruca was something. Now I don't even have that."
" You'll find someone�."
" Oh yeah, and when I wolf out? No, it's not gonna happen. I'm the odd man out, alone. Believe me, it's a bad place to be." He pushes her away. " I gotta go, gotta think."
" Oz!" She reaches for him.
" Just go away!" He shoves her back, and before she can recover, is out the door , slamming it behind.
Faith stares at the door. She sighs, and turns around, grabbing a towel.
" Good one Faith, " She mutters to herself. " Watch out Tony Robbins. Faith's makin a play for your job."

-3-

Willow, while Giles questions the Anne-bot, picks up the manual that he and Buffy snagged from the Initiative. She casually starts to thumb through it, reading the suppliers page. One supplier in particular strikes her eyes.
Brandon Microtrends: Suppliers of custom made microprocessors for all applications.
She starts to blink rapidly, and the lights in the lab seem to fade.
" Willow, did you catch that?" Giles looks over at her, and then stands up quickly
Willow has passed out, teetering on the edge of her chair.
" Oh, my goodness! " Giles says, rushing over to her.
" Is Ms. Rosenberg quite alright?" The Anne-bot asks. " Do you require assistance?"
" No. I have her. You stay here."
Giles lifts Willow, and slinging her arm over his shoulder, leads her out of the impromptu lab.
-4-

" Mmmm, that was nice, " Buffy smiles a cat- that- just- ate- the= cream smile. She slides her body onto Angel, pushing back and down on the couch, " So, " she says throatily, " lets make more nice." She licks his lips. " mmmmm".
Buffy was still a little revved up from earlier, when she and Willow were teasing Faith. And it got a little beyond teasing.
They kiss for awhile, Buffy snuggling into Angel, moving her body around so he can be reminded she's not just for looking at. She gets up, and moves to straddle him, starting to unbutton his shirt.
" Buffy, I'm loving this, believe me, " Angel says, his breathing definitely on the heavy side, " but we really need to talk."
" No we don't, " Buffy giggles, starting to kiss his chest. She takes one of his nipples in her mouth, and nips it lightly.
" Really, we do, " Angel gently pushes her back, and sits up. Buffy's face clouds over.
" I don't understand it, Angel, " She says, scooting away and crossing her arms over her chest. " We finally get a few minutes alone, and you wanna talk." She shakes her head, not believing this.
" Buffy, I love you. You know that, " Angel reaches to pull her close, but she pushes him away.
" Not really showing that, buster, " She says, her tone none too happy. She frowns, and her bottom lip quivers just a little. "What's wrong with me, Angel? Don't you find me sexy anymore?"
" Of course I find you sexy. God, you make me crazy sometimes you're so sexy!" Angel looks, and sees Buffy's not believing him. He takes her hand and gently places it on his groin. Her eyebrows arch, and she looks at Angel with renewed interest.

" Did I do that to you?" She giggles, gently stroking him.
" Er� yeah� but that wasn't an invitation to� Buffy, stop it!"
" Why?" Buffy leans over, and starts playing with his zipper. " It's pretty obvious you're interested." She digs in his pants, and then gently pulls out his penis. " And I'm definitely of the interested." She leans over, and gently kisses the head.
" Uuuuhhh�. Buffy�. No!" He pushes her away, and puts his penis away. " We have to talk. Things have changed. They're different now, and we have to figure out what we're gonna do now."
Buffy gets an enormous, wide- eyed hurt look on her face. Sitting up, she scoots away from Angel on the sofa, fussily adjusting her clothes.
" Ok, I get it, " Buffy says, tone flat," let's talk." She doesn't look at him.
" Buffy, I'm sorry, really," Angel moves over to put his arm around her, but she shrugs him off and moves closer to the end, " but now that everything's out in the open, we really have to figure out what we're going to do."
"Well," Buffy says petulantly, " We were going to have some fun, Mr. Buzz Kill, until you decided to get chatty."
" Buffy, right now�"
" No, this isn't ' right now'," Buffy complains, " it's been going on for awhile. Ever since Halloween, you've been avoiding me, like� " she looks at him, scared." Is it me? Is it � aren't I � don't you like me anymore?"
" That's ridiculous, Buffy," Angel says, " I adore you. But don't you see? We� everything is all mixed up now. We've got to figure out how we're going to go on from here. I mean, are we going to leave Sunnydale? And where do we go? And you're a kid, how do we �"
" Not a kid, " Buffy says, childishly, " I'm a woman."
" Yes, I know that, but age wise? You're still a teenager�"
" Yeah, and you're so old! For all we know, I might be older than you. I mean, there's no telling when any of us were created, right? Maybe I came first, did you think about that? Maybe they just accelerated you're age in the tank� or whatever they put us in." Buffy stops, thinking about her dreams. " Tank�" She trails off.
" What?" leans over towards her. " What is it?"

" It's just� those dreams I had. Of being put in a tank� or maybe it was someone else. She was older than me, I think� and when we were at the Initiative last night, there was this door. I felt a pull� I wanted to go in there, it was important� but I couldn't get in. And then Giles called me� I �" She looks at Angel. " I think it was � I think she was in there�"
" She?"
" The woman in my dreams� but who is she? And � I don't know. I just don't know." She hugs herself. She gets angry, " And now you don't want me. Maybe I'll just stay in Sunnydale. NO! I don't want to be around these� crazy people anymore. I don't� know what to do," She turns to Angel, " What do we do?"
" That's what I was saying, Buffy, " Angel 's tone is gentle, " We need to make plans�"
" Not now, please? Just hold me now, ok?" Angel puts his arms around her , and she leans against him, head on his chest. " That's better," she sighs. " I wish mom were here. She'd know what to do."
" Buffy�"
" I know she's not my mom, Angel. I know she's part of this, but the weird thing is? I love her!" Buffy confesses. " I was mad at her, wanted to � I don't know, but it wasn't nice, but I love her, Angel. I only know her as my mom. The one who fixed my knee when I scraped it and made birthday cakes for me and tucked me in and � all that stuff." She seems to shrink a little, " I know it's all a lie, but I feel it, Angel. And I miss her."
" Buffy� "
" I know it's stupid but I can't help it."
" Buffy, maybe you should make it up with her?"
Buffy looks at him hopefully, then her face falls.
"That's not gonna happen, Angel. She � she doesn't want me. I'm not her daughter, just some test tube thing to study�"
" Buffy� I saw her that day. At the Chases. When Giles told all of us the truth, I saw her expression. She was shocked, Buffy. She didn't have a clue. And when you ran off? She was scared, Buffy. I think she thought she lost you forever. You can't fake what she was feeling. Not like that." He looks deeply in her eyes. " I think she really loves you, Buffy. Like a mom loves her favorite daughter."
Buffy's lower lip started quivering, and a tear rolled down her cheek� followed by a flood. She leans into Angel, and starts crying quietly. Angel holds her, stroking her hair.
" Buffy," He says finally, " whatever you want to do, I'm with you. If you want to stay in Sunnydale, I'll be with you. I'll do my best to protect you and Joyce."
" Like, I'm not Supergirl? I can't protect us?" She chides him, but you can see the love in her eyes. She whispers ," thanks." She leans against him. " Do you think maybe we could talk her into leaving Sunnydale? Go away with us?"
" If it meant keeping you in her life? I think she'd go anywhere." Angel says. " Like me."
" I love you, Angel, " Buffy says softly. She slips her arm around his neck.
" I love you too, Buff, " Angel pulls her close, and they begin to kiss.
" Can I get some help here, please?"
-6-

" Can I get some help here, please?"
The doors to the ER entrance burst open, and two paramedics wheel in a stretcher. On it is laying a young man, late teens. He's pale, with his eyes closed, his complexion having a grayish cast. With him is a young woman of indeterminate age, following along with the stretcher.
Dr. Liam McConnell, the on-duty resident, rushes over and starts querying the paramedics for information.
" His BP is 100 over 60, doctor, and falling, " one of the paramedics reports. " his vitals are weak, and his pulse is fast. He's lost a lot of blood, and I think he may have been using drugs."
Dr. McConnell turns to the young woman, who's standing a little off, looking at the victim . She looks confused and scared.
" Do you know him?"
She doesn't answer, just keep staring.
" DO YOU KNOW HIM?" He says louder, breaking her out of her daze.
" Yeah, he's my man. Is he� is he gonna be ok?"
" Was he using drugs?"
She doesn't answer.
" Was he using drugs?" He repeats, annoyed. " look, I have to know. Is he clean or not."
" No� yes, I mean yes, he � smoked some crack�" She's shaking.
He sighs. His job just got a whole lot harder. The girl goes over to the stretcher, and starts talking to the victim. " It's gonna be ok. We got you to the hospital, babe. They're gonna fix you up good, just hang in there, ok? Just don't you die on me, you punk. You hang in there, you hear me? You gotta live, HEAR ME??? DON'T YOU DE ON ME". She ends up screaming at him.
" You're going to have to go, Miss. Now. We have it." He tries to pull her away.
" You're gonna fix him, right? He's gonna be ok, right?" She looks at McConnell wild eyed. " YOU GOTTA FIX HIM!" She struggles against him. " I GOTTA STAY. MAKE SURE YOU DON'T KILL HIM. LET ME GO, YOU FUCKER!" She tries to hit him.
" You're going to have to leave, now!" Liam nods at the guards, who come up and grab the girl. She struggles against them as they pull her out.
" NO, NO, NO!!! LET ME GO! I GOTTA STAY. YOU GOTTA FIX HIM, HEAR ME? FIX HIM! OR I'LL KILL YOU, I SWEAR I 'LL KILL YOU�." Her voice is cut off when they drag her out of the ER.
Dr. McConnell, stares at the entry doors, shaking his head. Man, she's so high it's � he sighs.
" Liam? I need your help here� Liam? Liam?"
"ANGEL!" Giles yells at him. " I need your help here!"
"What? Sorry, sure." He walks over to Giles. Taking Willow's feet, he helps Giles to get her on the couch.
" What happened, Giles?" Buffy asks, looking worried.
" I really don't know. We were working on the Anne-bot, and she passed out. Damn, " Giles curses. " I wish I had better medical facilities here. I really would like to run some tests on her. I don't think she's at all well."
" She sick?" Buffy looks up at him, " She's gonna be alright, though� isn't she?" Buffy looks scared. " Isn't she?"
" I think so, " Giles comes over. He pulls back on her blouse, revealing the bandage where her wound is. " I just wish I knew more about those weapons they were using. I have no idea the extent of damage they might have caused."
" We'll just have to wait and see." He says, looking a little grim.

-7-

" How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?"
Rory Wilkins is in her dorm room; the one she shares with Claire. She is sitting on her bed, her boyfriend, Brandon Rourke, standing by her, looking angry. Claire is at the desk in the opposite corner.
" Sorry doesn't cut it, Rory!" Brandon moves away from her, " I told you how important last night was to me!'
" I know. I 'm sorry, but Dzundsky assigned this paper last minute, and I had to get it out. I had to, Brandon, or the sadistic prick would flunk me. And I'd be kicked out of the physics program. I didn't have a choice!"
" You had a choice, Rory. You could've been there, with me, when I was accepted into Delta Kappa Gamma. But you chose to be here, working on a paper. That was important to me, Rory. Very important. And you decided homework was more important."
"Brandon, please. I told you, I can't flunk out in physics."
"What is your problem, Brandon?" Claire calls out from the other side of the room, " can't you hear? This is her life she's talking about here. She can't help it that Dr. Nazi assigned a paper the night you and your frat buddies have a party. Back off, bozo."
" Shut up, Claire. This isn't your business."
" It's my biz when you start attacking my friends, " Claire stands up, walking over. " Don't you get it, moron? Rory is some kinda genius. She's smarter than you'll ever be, that's for sure. She needs physics to be accepted into the advanced Bio-engineering program here. She's struggling, and you're not helping at all. God, how selfish can you get?"
" if she's so smart, how come she's failing physics?" Brandon sneers.
" Because she, for some unknown reason, is crazy about you. and instead of studying like she should be, she's going to all these parties with you, getting no sleep, looking like hell, and doing things at the last minute. Her work is like going in the toilet, and it's your fault, you pig!"
Brandon laughs, and pushes her.
" That's crap. The real reason you're all hot is because you got like this major lesbo crush on my girlfriend, and she doesn't want to have shit to do with you, you dyke. You can't stand it that she loves me and not you, you frigid bitch!"
"STOP IT! BOTH OF YOU!" Rory is off the bed, getting between them. " Knock it off. C'mon, chill. Both of you!" She turns to Brandon. " I think you better go."
" What? Me?" Brandon is furious, " Are you blind or what, Rory. All Claire is doing is trying to split us up so she has a shot at getting in your pants!"
" Don't talk about her like that!" Rory yells at him. "Get OUT!"
" Yeah, Frat boy, get out!" Claire chimes in.
" You fucking�" Without warning, he hits Claire straight in the face. She crumples to the floor.
" Claire?" CLAIRE!" Rory runs over to her, checking her out. " You son of a bitch �" She jumps up, going at Brandon. "What the fuck have you DONE!"
Enraged, Rory jumps on him , beating him around the back and head and shoulders. Brandon puts up his arms to defend himself, but Rory is like woman possessed. Finally, he grabs her, and throws her across the room. She hits the bureau, hitting her head on the corner. She slumps to the ground, bleeding.
Brandon, panicked, runs out of the room.
A few moments later, Claire comes around. She sits up, and is hit by a shooting pain in her face.
" Whadda fuck?" She says, touching her nose and whimpering. " That bastahd bwoke my nodse."
Still groggy, she looks around and sees Rory slumping by the bureau. Then she sees the blood on the bureau and floor.

" Ow ma gawd� Rowry!" She crawls over, and sees her friend bleeding from the back of the head. " ROWRY!"
She struggles up, and looks around, forgetting in her panic where the phone is. Finally, seeing it, she rushes to it, dialing 911.
" Hello ... pleadse hep me� we need hep� my friend� she's hurd bad�bleeding�yes� Founder's Hall, room 334�"
Losing it, she drops the phone and rushes back to her friend.
" Rowry�Rowry� oh, Gawd, Rowry�wake up�WAKE UP!"

Willow suddenly sits up on the couch. She looks around, confused, as if she's never been here before. She blinks her eyes rapidly, as if to clear her sight.
" Where� where am I? What happened?" She asks, bewildered. " What's going on?"
" You fainted, Willow, in the lab," Giles says quietly. " I brought you in here so you could rest."
Buffy is kneeling next to her, Angel standing to her right. In the doorway Oz is accompanied by a pale, upset looking Faith. You can tell her clothes were hastily thrown on.

" Why the grim, guys?" Willow tentatively smiles, " Hey, it's just a fainting spell. Everybody looks�" She trails off, looking into the sea of serious faces surrounding her. She starts to get a little queasy.
" Willow," Giles says, trying to keep everything calm, " I want to run a couple of tests on you. Just to be sure everything is alright. "
Willow looks around, and suddenly feels like everything and everybody is closing in on her. Tossing off the blanket, she stands up.
" No� no tests. I don't want any more tests, " She says quietly, but the tone is shaky.
" Willow, it's important. I don't like the way that wounds healing, " Giles says, coming over to her. " Come with me, please."
" No� no I don't want to!" Willow cries out, backing away. " Why don't you leave me alone? All of you?" She backs towards the doorway. " All of you, just go away. " She turns, and almost runs into Faith.
" Baby, " Faith says, softly, " It's ok, I'll be right there with you,"

" NO!" Willow, irrational with fear, shoves her away. " I gotta go� gotta think." She runs out, and her steps are heard on the stairs.
Giles is following her, but Faith stops him. " What did you do to her?" She asks, her anger growing.
" I assure you, I didn't nothing to her. Now let me pass, Faith. I've got to help her."
" The hell! You're scaring her!" Faith says, stubbornly.
" I'm not scaring her, but I think I know what is. Think Faith, what would scare you if you were alone and didn't feel you had anyone to depend on?"
" She has me, Giles!" Faith declares," I wouldn't desert her."
" No, probably not. But she may not realize that. This might make her think you would."
"What the hell are you �" The it hits Faith like a ton of bricks. " You think? But� that's impossible!"
" Oh, for goodness sakes, " Giles starts up the stairs. " Do you think I'm a fool, Faith? I�m well aware of your � special circumstances." Giles , reaching the top, walks down the hall to the bathroom. Retching can be heard.
"Giles, wait up!" Faith calls out. She catches up to him at the bathroom door.
" Stay out, Faith, " Giles puts up a hand. " just stay out."
The door closes in her face.

-8-

" � stay out!" She feels herself pushed out the door, and hears the door closing behind her.
She's on her knees. She gets up, brushing herself off. She stares at the closed door in front of her.

]

She feels shaky.
She needs her medicine. Her body is screaming for it, telling her to get herself well.
But her rage is greater. She's gotta get that guy. That doctor.
He killed Mondo.
She brushes the lanky, stringy hair out of her eyes, and moves into the shadows of the parking lot. She knows that bastard has to come this way, to get his car. She crouches down, waiting.
She watched through the glass as the ER doctor worked on Mondo. But she saw him hardly doing anything. The bastard didn't even try. He thought Mondo wasn't worth nothing, the prick. He just stood there. Then walked away. Bastard. He killed him � same as if he shot him!
She remembers pushing through the doors, running after him. Attacking him. But he was bigger, and stronger, and held her off. The guards came again, and grabbed her. They threw her out. Out, but not gone.
She feels her stomach twist, the need for drugs getting stronger by the moment. She groans softly, and thought it's a cool night, she's sweating. Gotta hang on, gotta get the bastard. She reaches into her coat, and pulls out her weapon of choice. A snub nosed .38 she stole off someone. It's shaky in her hand. But she concentrates, making herself stop shaking. This is too important. She's gotta be in control.
She sees someone walking through the parking lot. Quietly, she makes her way towards the figure, keeping to the shadows. She sees the figure in full light. It's him! She moves closer.
Dr. Liam McConnell feels tired. It's been a long shift, nearly 16 hours on. Normally, even after a marathon shift, he stays after, doing up reports. But that last patient really shook him.
After his girlfriend � I assume it was his girlfriend� was dragged out, Liam turned to the patient, preparing to go to work. But the drugs and shock caused his heart to seize up, and he went into a cardiac event. He ordered a lidocaine injection to get the heart started and stabilized, but the boy was too far gone. Even the paddles wouldn't bring him back. He called it, and they pronounced him dead.
Then the girlfriend was back, attacking and screaming at him. He tried to calm her, but she was out of her mind. Drugs and grief. The guards had to subdue her and throw her out. But it shook him. This job is getting way to dangerous. He thought, as he approached his car. I just need to get out of here, get home, decompress�
" Money, gimme your money, " A voice growls from behind him. He feels something hard pressed in his back. " don't fuck around, give it up!"
Liam, a block of ice in his stomach, raises his hands. " In my back pocket. My wallet." He says, shakily.
He feels a hand pull his wallet roughly out of his pocket. The mugger shoves him away, and for a second, he feels relief. Then the hard thing is in his stomach.
" You killed him, you mother fucker, " She says. She shoots him. " you killed Mondo, " She shoots him again, and again, till the gun is empty.
It's strange what you think about as you're dying. You'd think it would be your life on parade, or some such thing. The loves, regrets, triumphs or failures of your existence.
Nothing so grand.
It sounds like caps, Liam thought as the bullets ripped into his stomach.
At first he felt nothing, the shock too great. Then it felt as if a claw ripped open his guts, and his entire insides were falling out. He fell to his knees, the pain keeping him alive another second. He looked into the face of his shooter.
It was her. The girl in the ER room, attacking him.
She looked into his eyes, and saw something she'd never seen before. She'd seen lots of death. Caused some of it. But she'd never seen Death staring her in the eye before.
She felt a cold hand seize her heart, and as the distant wail of a police siren got louder, she panicked, dropping the gun and running off into the night.

" Faith? Are you alright?" She feels a hand shaking her.
" I didn't do it!" She cries out, still not altogether here. She looks around, realizing she's back in the hallway. What the hell was that? She shakes it off.
" Faith? What is it?" Giles looks at her, seeing the panic in her face. " She's alright Faith. Come in," He holds the door for her.
Giles is beginning to be worried. First Willow, then Angel and now Faith seem to be having blackouts. I'm going to have to check into this. Something may be going very wrong. He follows Faith into the bathroom, and closes the door.
Faith enters the bathroom, seeing Willow sitting on the edge of the tub. She kneels by her, capturing Willow's hand in her own.
Willow looks at her with wide, frightened eyes. Her lips are compressed tightly, and she's shaking.
" What is it, baby?" Faith encourages her. She can feel how scary this is for Willow.
" I � I think I'm pregnant, Faith."

-9-

" Fools!"
Dr. Walsh, picked up at the airport by Ethan Rayne's limousine, is still fuming over the congressional committee hearings into Project Moreau. She has spent the last two weeks having her abilities questioned at every turn, her decisions second guessed, and generally humiliated by each subcommittee. She has held her temper and her tongue, knowing that the best she could expect from this witch hunt, as she characterizes it, is severe limitations in her budget and more oversight by outsiders. But in the end, the project has been scrapped, and she has been fired.
They have no vision. They're focused on the mistakes, and can't see the big picture. My research doesn�t only carry military and intelligence applications. What I'm doing could go far in improving the human race. Smarter, stronger physically and emotionally, better over all. But they're just too foolish, too much of the toadies to ever really have anything but tunnel vision. I'll show them the way; that's my sacrifice for having the vision. But it won't come cheaply� they'll pay a far higher price now for my success.
She sits back in her seat, content for now in her vision of repopulating the world with her new, improved specie. With Ethan Rayne's financial backing, that dream is closer to reality for her than ever. There is only one small dark spot in her glorious vision.
Ethan Rayne.
Ah, well, we'll blow up that bridge when we come to it. She smiles, thinking on ways she can destroy her one last obstacle.

Inside the mansion, Ethan is enjoying the fruits of his labor.
Sitting in comfortable chair, he is being serviced by Cordelia Chase, or at least, the girl that once was Cordelia. She has changed radically; Ethan's nanobots have been hard at work changing her physical form, making her look more and more like Anne. Her mouth surrounds Ethan's cock, her head bobbing up and down as she attempts to take more and more of his engorged member in her mouth. She looks at him with adoring eyes.
Briefly letting his cock flop out from her mouth, she smiles at him. " Does this please you, Ethan my love?"
Ethan smiles, his breathing heavy and ragged. " Oh, indeed, child. You're by far my favorite cock sucker" He gently presses her head back to business. Cordelia takes his swollen penis in her mouth, and begins again to bring him to ecstasy.
Behind her is Xander, dressed only in a smile, servicing her now wet pussy. He grips her by the hips, and as her hips roll in delight, he thrusts in long slow strokes, his cock primed to shoot. His eyes are closed, and his own delight is evident in his slack, goofy smile.
"Faster, Xander. Fuck me harder, " Cordelia says, her mouth muffled by Ethan's member.
Xander, obeying her command, starts to thrust faster, his own groans starting to mix with the others.

" Well, now, isn't this cozy, " A decidedly harsh voice interrupts the festivities. Maggie Walsh is standing in the doorway, her expression bemused at the scene before her.
Ethan, startled, pushes Cordelia away, throwing his open robe across his obviously stimulated organ. He smiles urbanely, attempting to regain some sense of dignity.
" Marguerite, my dear, " He says, standing up, pulling the robe across himself, " We weren't expecting you for another hour or so. "
He sees that Xander and Cordelia, still caught up in lust, are going at it rather vigorously. He claps his hands, gaining their attention.
" Children, enough. Get up and robe yourselves, please," he commands. Seeing their disappointed and frustrated looks, he continues, " more playtime later."
"You degenerate," Marguerite says in a half angry, half amused voice, " this is what you do while I'm getting my ass chewed out by the committee. Is anything I left to be done even started?" She turns on Xander and Cordelia, " Well, I think we won't need either Xander's or your new Robo-slut's services�" She takes a closer look at the woman. " Wait� Cordelia?" She turns to Ethan, enraged. " What have you done to Cordelia? She looks just like your robo-slut, Anne." She turns back to Cordelia. " I want you to go to the lab for evaluation, immediately."
Cordelia stands, hands on hips, totally naked in front of Dr. Walsh.
" I don't take orders from you, you hag," She sneers. " Maybe you wouldn't be so bitchy if you got laid more often."
Marguerite, already at the end of her temper, walks over and slaps Cordelia. Cordelia slaps her back. Not expecting that response, Marguerite backs away from her. She turns on Ethan.
"What have you done to her?" She hisses.
" Now, Maggie, do relax," Ethan says calmly. " Cordelia?"
" Yes Ethan?"
" Do be a good girl, and report to the lab as Dr. Walsh requested."
" Of course, Ethan, " She says affably. She hooks her arm in Xander's. " Come on, Xander. Lets go have some fun."
Dr. Walsh stands fuming, watching the couple exit. She turns on Rayne.
" What did you do to them?" She gets in his face. " They were important to my research� and you've ruined them!"
Ethan is amused by her temper, and walks casually over to his desk, sitting behind it.
" I haven't done anything to the boy at all. Seems he was pretty much a pervert before I ever met him, " He looks pointedly at Marguerite. " As for the girl? Well, I admit, she took a little more work."
" They were important to my research. The girl, especially, since she was a successful test. Now she's useless."
" I'd hardly say useless," Ethan chortles.
" This is intolerable, Ethan. I won't have my work compromised by anyone. Including you!"
" Oh, relax, Maggie, have a drink." He waves his hand vaguely over at the bar. She stands glowering at him." Silly me, my manners. I'm the host. What can I get you?" He rises from his desk, and walks over to the bar.
"Nothing, thank you, " She replies, grimly. " I hardly think this is time for drinking."
" Oh, come on, Maggie, have a drink. Consider it a celebration. A toast to our new partnership." He smiles sweetly at her.
Marguerite, realizing that she'll have to keep herself in better control to outwit the lout, forces herself to be calm.
" Of course, you're right, Ethan. Do you have scotch?"
" Does the queen have a crown? Of course." He turns, and pours two fingers of scotch in a glass for her. Hiding the glass from her view, she doesn't see the small vial of liquid he adds to her drink. Turning, he returns to the desk, handing Marguerite her drink." Please, make yourself comfortable, Dr. Walsh."
Marguerite finds a chair, and sits in front of the desk.
" Now, I know you're upset about Cordelia. But I'm using her to field test a new breed of nanobots. "
" I see. Planning on creating a line of super sluts, are you?" Dr. Walsh replies archly, " I'm sure the brothels of the world will be so pleased."
"Hardly anything so prosaic as that. Though, that is a market I hadn't considered. " He watches for Dr. Walsh's reaction, chuckling as she sees her mouth become tighter. " Actually, I'm thinking this would go hand in hand with your research. Imagine the possibilities, Dr. Walsh, of a breed of agent that could change his appearance at will? Like a chameleon, they could slip into anywhere, spy on anything. Imagine the fortune a country would pay for such an agent." He sits back in his chair. " Of course, the ones I'm using in Cordelia are only prototypes, really. They're much too slow for field application. But from them we can learn how to improve and speed them up. In time, they could be implanted in each of your subjects."
" Making a super agent is not what my research is about, Ethan. You know I'm working for the betterment of mankind."
" Of course you are, my dear. And I salute you. But, let's be practical, shall we?" His eyes narrow. " in today's world, governments would pay anything for such an agent as I describe. The amount of money we could make off this little � sidetrack to your research, would go far in paying the bills on your dreams. " He leans on his elbows." I'm very rich, Marguerite, but even MY money isn't without limits. I'm a businessman, and a very good one. You cant run a business without profit. You can't be rich without obscene profits. And my dear, I have no intention of being anything but obscenely rich. So, while I admire your vision, I must insist that you also devote time to things that make money. Such, I would say, as this little project."
Marguerite stares down at her drink, not wanting him to see her eyes. " Of course, Ethan. I understand fully."
" Good, " He takes a small sip of his drink. " Now, I'm pleased to inform you that your equipment has been safely transported from it's old location, and I've set it up in a new facility here on the compound. It's ready for your inspection whenever you're ready. Also, your samples have arrived safely, and are being kept in cold storage until you're ready to begin work." His smile fades. " We did have one little glitch, however, I have to report. While being transported here, the� ummm� guest, Daniel Osborne, managed to escape from our� protective custody. We still haven't located him to bring him back to the fold."
" How did this happen?" Dr. Walsh doesn't sound pleased.
" It seems some of your other� subjects got it in their mind to rescue him. They assaulted the Initiative building, and seems to have gotten around your crack security, getting him out safely."
" Why am I just learning of this?" Dr. Walsh drums her fingers on Ethan's desk. " I really wanted that boy. He could've given me some answers about the conditioning process."
" Yes, well, with all the stresses you were having in Washington, and seeing how there was nothing to be done immediately, I thought it best to wait for your return."
" Yes, I'm sure you did," Dr. Walsh says, tightly. " Where's Lt. Commander Finn? He should've informed me of this situation, immediately."
" Yes. Finn. Well, I regret to inform you, Maggie, but you're Lt. Commander Finn has decided he feels a strong pull to his country. He and his unit have returned to the loving arms and warm bosom of his country's military."
Dr. Walsh is stunned.
" I don�t understand that. He seemed favoring joining us. He promised to wait until I returned to give me an answer."
" Well, you know the vagaries of the Armed Forces, m' dear. Seems they feel they have the right to order one of their own to another place, just any old time. He did send his regrets." He gloats silently at her reaction. " Now, don't be distressed, Dr. Walsh. I've assigned a team of my own security to your project, making them available to any needs you may have of their services. I assure you, they've been screened thoroughly, and are the tops in their field."
Marguerite feels like a chess player who starts the game two moves behind. I'll just have to wait until he makes his fatally flawed move, and pounce, she thinks. " Thank you, Ethan, " She says aloud, " that was very kind of you."
" Now, Maggie. I've noticed you haven't even touched your drink. I insist. We must toast to our new partnership." He holds up his glass, and Marguerite touches hers to his. " To success," he says, watching as she drinks her scotch. A small smile breaks out on his face.
" Maggie, what kind of host am I? Here I am, keeping you up after your long journey. I must insist that you allow my staff to show you to your suite of rooms." He rises, and crosses the room, touching a button on the wall. " you do look a bit tired."
" Yes, " Maggie agrees, suddenly feeling very tired, " I do seem to have some jet lag. That would be nice."
She rises, and feels a little woozy. " Dear me, I shouldn't have downed that scotch so quickly."
A manservant arrives at the door of the library. " Oh, Henry, good. Please show Dr. Walsh to her suite." He turns to her. " I gave you a suite of rooms in the East wing. There is a separate entry ,so you don't need to go through the entire house after a long day at work."
" Thank you, Ethan, " Dr. Walsh, feeling more tired, smiles. " That was very considerate."
" Oh, anything for you, Maggie. I look forward to a fruitful and prosperous relationship." He smiles at her. " Good night then."
" Hmmm� yes, good night, Ethan." Dr. Walsh exits ,following Henry out.
Ethan walks to his desk, and sits, picking up the phone.
" Yes, please have someone go to the lab, and fetch Ms. Chase and Mr. Harris. Have them return to the library immediately. We have some unfinished business." He smiles, and presses a button on his phone, connecting him to another part of the mansion.

Deep below, in the sub basement, a secret lab is set up. A number of technicians are going here and there, working on the most secret projects of Rayne International. On one of the lab gurneys is strapped a man.
It's Lt. Commander Finn, unconscious at the moment. He is hooked up to an IV drip, and various machines are monitoring his vitals. The strangest thing though, is the changes in him. He is bigger, much bigger than before. And his body is undergoing changes, changes from within.
A phone rings in the lab, and one of the technicians picks it up.
" Yes, sir, Mr. Rayne. This is Roberts. Yes. Lt. Finn? Oh, you'll be quite pleased. Yes, the nanobots are indeed creating the changes your requested. Oh, I'd say he should be ready physically in 48 hours or so. The programming? Progressing very well. He was resistant at first, but the mind altering drugs have taken effect now. Give it a day, he won't even remember his mother. Yes. Yes sir. I'll keep you informed."

Upstairs, Ethan Rayne sits back in his chair, sighing contentedly. He smiles, knowing that things are on course for his plans. His smile broadens as his favorite sex toys, Cordelia and Xander, return to the room. Already he feels an enjoyable twitch in his groin, and he's so looking forward to testing out all of Cordelia's new talents.
Life is good, he sighs as Cordelia and Xander approach the desk.

-10-

" Pregnant?"
The entire group, minus Giles, is sitting in the living room area. Willow and Faith are on the couch, and the rest are in a semi-circle around them.
" Nothings for sure, yet," Faith speaks up." Giles needs to do some tests. But it seems the signs all point in that direction." Faith takes Willow's hand, and squeezes it. " Are you ok, honey?" she asks Willow. Willow nods.
" Pregnant?" Buffy smiles, and comes over, sitting next to Willow on the other side, " That's wonderful!" She hugs Willow. "You're going to be a mommy!" She looks, and is a little shocked at the expression on Willow's face. " Not wonderful?"
" Buffy," Willow, frowning, turns to her, " this has got to be the crappiest time for me to be pregnant," she mourns. " With all the craziness, and the initiative after us, being pregnant right now is a disaster!"
" I think that settles it then," Angel, standing across the room from Faith and Willow, interjects. " I think we need to make serious plans about leaving this place." He moves across the room, and kneels down before Willow." It was bad enough before, with the Initiative after us. But now, with you pregnant, I think we need to disappear�"
" Just leave?" Willow looks distressed. "But� I want to work on the 'bot. I know I can really find out a lot from her. And� and there's other stuff. I can't leave now. I need to stay!"
" Willow, baby, that's insane-o talk, " Faith says, " We can't hang here. Those � people will get us, chop us into little bits to find out about us. We've gotta get outta here!"
"No, you're not getting it, Faith," Willow says, " I've got too much to do here. I can't just leave. I've got school� I like school. I need school. And mom and dad. I want� I need them. I need them to be mom and dad again. Not some strangers . I need them to be clueless, and try to get it wrong, but still try to figure me out.And hug me. And kiss the boo-boo. And I have to have my snuggly sheets. I need them. I need to snuggle in them, feel them, feel safe. Don't you see? I � want movie nights again. And I need talking on the phone to Buffy at any old time about stupid stuff and serious stuff. And boys. And �and� I can't leave now�" she trails off. " I'm just a kid� I don't want to be grown up yet�"
Buffy looks at Willow, and feels the tears starting. Faith takes Willow's hand, squeezing it lightly
" Baby�"
" Where would we go, Faith?" Oz interrupts them from the other corner of the room. " I know you've got this big idea that we can just blow Sunnydale and hide out. But that�s not gonna work. Let's face it, were all a bunch of freaks. We are we gonna blend in? " He shakes his head.
" Oz, I know you're hurting right now, and I'm sorry about Veruca and the way you feel. But couz? Shut UP! We've got other more important things to consider here." She nods her head at Willow.
" She's right. We've got to get out of here," Buffy agrees with Faith, " We've got to protect the baby�"

Willow starts laughing. It's not a happy laugh.
" Baby?" She giggles, sounding stressed. " Baby? God, are you insane? How do we know what's growing inside me?" She gets up, walking away from the group. " it's mother's a freak, her�" she looks at Faith, "� daddy's a freak. What kind of freak might it be? The way they messed with our DNA, who knows what's gonna pop out the ole chute, huh?" She starts pacing back and forth. " I don't want this. I don't want a baby. I don't want any of this. I just want to be NORMAL. I want to be away from all this, live a life away from this. How can you even think� " She leans against the wall, and starts crying. " God, I hate this. All of this. I just � I just wanna die!" She starts sobbing.
" Baby, no!" Faith is up, running to her. " It's going to be ok, I promise, It's going to be ok!" She tries to take Willow in her arms, but Willow starts punching her.
" Get away. GET AWAY! I HATE YOU. I HATE YOU!" She screams, pounding on Faith. Then her anger breaks, and she falls against Faith, crying harder. " I hate you, " She sobs. " I hate you so much." She clings to Faith.
Giles comes in, looking distracted.
" What's going on in here?"
" Willow's upset, Giles. Thought that was pretty obvious," Buffy says, upset that Willow's upset.
He looks around the group, and his face is grim.
" I have news, and I fear it's not good. My informant has informed me that Dr. Walsh is back. "

The others go silent. Even Willow looks up.
" Whatever plans you have for leaving, I think we'll have to accelerate them."

To be continued
- 12
- 13
- 14
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