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What are we gonna do now?	By : norwalker Category: -Buffy the Vampire Slayer > FemmeSlash - Female/Female > Buffy/Faith Views: 3568 -:- 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
- 17
- 18
- 19
~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~

What are we gonna do now?

Chapter 18

~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~

Strange things have been happening in California, particularly in the Los Angeles area.

Ok, strange things always happen in California… but these we stranger than usual. Is that possible?

San Francisco declared itself a ‘conservative capitol’ of the nation. The population immediately dropped by two thirds. City council is declaring a “ God Bless Rush Limbaugh” Day, and plans are in the works to straighten out Lombard Street.

A former star of Hollywood action pictures was elected Governor of California on the platform of cleaning up California’s deficit problems by curtailing spending. Oh… wait, that really happened.

Los Angeles, Ca.: A series of brutal dog murders were reported in the West Hollywood area.

Demonic activity was on the rise. Along with the murder and suicide rate.

Los Angeles city hall was taken over by a swarm of rats from the sewer system. Nobody noticed any changes.

The homeless population in the mission district of downtown L.A. is on the decline. When interviewed, one former street person declared that “ It’s getting too weird for me down there.”

The grocery worker strike continues. They have added “ Singing show tunes while on duty” to their list of demands.

L.A. Police department, The county sheriff’s department, and various municipal police departments have en masse stopped patronizing local area doughnut shops. Six chains went out of business in a week.

There have been reports of weird noises and strange lights coming out of various downtown business complexes. When interviewed, a representative for Wolfram and Hart, one of the largest law firms in Los Angeles said “ What weird noises?”

A series of strange arson fires broke out in the West San Fernando Valley. Reports indicate they are targeting various porn “studios” in the valley.

A series of small earthquakes hit the Los Angeles Basin. No one noticed.

Welcome to L.A.

~~&~~&~~~~&~~~&~~&~~&~~

Angel was sleeping even less than usual.

When he would sleep, he was having a recurring nightmare.

In it , he was with Cordelia in a very dark place. The only light was a dull red glow from a globe seeming to float in mid air. Cordelia placed an amulet around his neck, which on contact fastened itself to his chest. He saw the stone of the amulet glow orange, and felt a strange power flow thru him.

Suddenly it was lighter around him, and he was a mystic plane. Behind him stood an army, dressed in black and red. He was leading that army. They were comprised of a combination of demons and humans. Some of the army was composed of the formers students in the secret slayer program.

In his hand he carried a sword, the sword glowing with energy. Cordelia, dressed in black and red, carried a small orb with her. Together the faced the opposition army.

It was composed of slayers… thousands of them. They were armed with swords, axes, crossbows, and strangely, modern equipment including rocket launchers and flamethrowers. All in all, both Armies would have a tough fight ahead.

The opposition army was led by four women. At first, he couldn’t see who they were, but as they got closer, it came clear to him. In the lead were Faith, Buffy, Willow and Dawn. All four looked grim, determined to win the fight at all costs.

Next to him, Cordelia starts to chant. An incredible pain rips through him, and the amulet on his chest glows bright orange. A beam of energy shoots from it. It's joined by a beam from the sword he is holding, and a greenish beam of energy that Cordelia is holding. All three beams seem to meet in the sky, where they are tearing the fabric of the sky apart. Revealed isimenimensional portal. Slowly, the energy seems to be destroying the gate between the dimensions.

At this point, he usually awakens from the dream.

He is getting more and more worried about what is happening around him. Fred has told him that mystical energy has spiked through the roof. She is still working on the little project he assigned her, but hopes to have it completed soon.

Wesley is away. In Massachusetts, consulting with Rupert Giles. He still hasn’t had a report back.

He is feeling more and more isolated. The flow of information on the doings in Wolfram and Hart has slowed to a trickle. Even Harmony, usually a fountain of gossip, has gone quiet.

Something bad is coming down the pike. Something involving the Senior Partners, he suspects.

The question is… what is he going to do about it?

He still has no answer to that question.

~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~

Rupert Giles is waiting for the four women to begin the meeting.

He is a bit on edge, as what he has to say isn’t going to be pleasant for them. He has had Havers in the L.A. center and Jamieson in the Cleveland center doing research for him, along with the usual researchers in London. The reports he has been getting have been… disturbing.

Then there is the fact he has not been able to reach Angel. Every time he calls, he is told Angel is in a meeting, or out of the office , or with a client… or some such nonsense. This is worrisome, because his assistance will most likely be required in this matter. He only hopes that when Wesley arrives he can find out what is going on at Wolfram and Hart.

The women file in, a bit subdued. Giles is … concerned. Usually when you get these four together, they are laughing and joking, but today they are on the quiet side. They sit at the table, Willow and Dawn on one side, Buffy and Faith on the other. Giles begins the meeting.

“

“ It seems, as usual, I’m the bearer of bad news” He begins. No one says anything. Strange. “ We had hoped after the first, that we were going to be apocalypse free for awhile. Seems there nothnother prophecy, however”

“Yup. Any time without a prophecy is like a day without sunshine” Buffy quips. The others shush her. She falls silent.

“ The reason we overlooked this particular prophecy is because the author was considered…particularly insane. The Katsui chronology has been ignored for centuries. My own research into the document, however, has found it to be particularly accurate on certain events. And with the rise in strange occurrences worldwide, particularly in California, it seems to spell some mystical phenomenon.

Briefly, this is how the prophecy reads:

After the end of days shall come a time of quiet. There has been the defeat of a great evil. However, do not be blind. Be wary, for in the darkness there builds a great force, one to destroy the light.

It is an old force, one as old as time itself. It be as old as time, and light, and darkness. It comes out of the Chaos to rule this reality, to make the light dark.

It shall come from sources not known, or knowable. It will take the form of pleasing gs, gs, until that time that it will reveal itself.

There shall arise out of the light a force, a force of champions. They will be led by one of the light, one of the dark, and one of the earth. In the center shall be the one who was not, but is now, who was born of the light, but norn brn by the light.

A great battle shall be enjoined. Many will be lost, and many will be found . All is not clear how it will end. I cannot see what the outcome will be, it's obscured in the fog of time

Beware, for those you trust may betray you. They who seek power over the darkness may find themselves enwrapped within it.

“ Gee, Giles, can’t you vague it up a little for us?” Buffy asks, a bit sarcastically.

“ Buffy, please?” Willow responds from across the table. “We’re trying to get the facts here”

Buffy goes quiet. Her face is grim.

“ Thank you, Willow” Giles says. The tension in here is getting thick, he notes to himself. But he attempts to plow right through it. “ I have been doing some research, and cross referencing other documents and prophecies, this is the time of The Reckoning. The Reckoning is an ancient war between the forces of order( Light) and Chaos(Darkness). It seems the Gods of Chaos are planning to invade this dimension, to take it over and use it in their struggle against the light. Certain mystical and physical alignments point in that direction. It’s time… this alignment only happens once in a millennium, and certain factors seem to indicate that the Chaos Gods are preparing to strike soon.”

“ Any idea ?” F?” Faith asks, a bit impatiently. She is not research and meeting girl.

“ Soon is all I have right now” Giles replies.

“ Always to the specifics, huh Giles? What happened? No one sent us the memo?” Buffy asks. Her voice contains a little acid.

“ Buffy, it isn’t helping being sarcastic” Willow says, quietly. “ Maybe if we listen, we can find out what is going on, and how to deal.”

“ Yeah, Buffy. How about being quiet, if you can do that?” Dawn chimes in.

“ Might’ve helped if you thought of that last night, Dawn” Faith mutters, just loud enough for Dawn to hear. Dawn blushes, and looks at her hands.

Giles sighs. He doesn’t like one bit what is going on around this table. But his reserve and upbringing prevent him from delving too deeply into it…at the moment, anyway.

“ As to when it happens, that is not the real issue. You will know when it happens, because you will be called to a mystical plane. These gods cannot exist on the Mortal plane. Not without having “hosts” to occupy. The mystical plane will be the staging area of the war. The Gods must break through to that plane, and then take the ‘vessels’ offered them so they can descend into our level of existence. According to the prophecy, we must stop them there.”

“ How are we to do that, Giles? I mean, the four of us?” Buffy asks.

“If you’d been listening, Buffy” Dawn replies, “ You would have heard the mention of an Army… of champions”

“ Yes” Giles interjects, trying to head off another little exchange of pleasantries. “ That would be the slayers. The ones you and Willow raised during the fight with the First” Giles goes on.” However, you all have a role in this fight, too.”

Giles goes around the table. He touches Buffy’s shoulder first “ One of the light”. He moves to Faith, and touches her shoulder.” One of the dark” Faith grins. Giles moves to Wil“ On“ One of the Earth” and finally, he moves to Dawn “One at the center, born of the light, but not born by the light.” Dawn smiles big time. She gets to be in the fight… and nothing Buffy can do to say no.

“ How do you figure, Giles? I mean, it really is kinda vague” Buffy says. “ It could be four other people”.

“ I believe Dawn is the centere… re… if you’ll pardon the expression, the key. She seems to fit exactly the prophecies requirement, and that means it's you four in the forefront”.

“ Still, it doesn’t exactly tell us how we’re gonna defeat the Big Bad” Buffy says.

“Yeah, G. B and I are kinda not the Who and Why girls, more the How we gonna stop ‘em girls” Faith chimes in.

“ I wettietting to that. Evidently, for the Chaos Gods to be able to enter the mystical plane, they need someone on this side to open it. They require the assemblage of three items. The Cursed orb of Charnok, the sword of Danacles, and the amulet of Ankarath. From my contacts, it would seem the already have the first two items. The last, the Amulet of Ankarath, seems to be at the moment eluding them. But it’s only a matter of time before they find it, as they are spending considerable resources to find it.”

“That is another problem. It would seem the resources of Wolfram and Hart are in the mix. And they are being used by the other side. I have been trying to contact Angel for a week, without success. I’m only hoping the worst hasn’t happened. That he haen…ten…taken out of the picture, or, there is the remote chance he has gone over to the other side.”

“ I don’t believe that, Giles” Buffy stands up, defending Angel “ He has his soul. I know there have been problems with me , Faith and Angel, but I think that was because Cordelia was duping him.”

“ It’s not like he hasn’t gone bad before” Willow speaks up.

“He has his soul, Willow. You and I saw to that, remember?” Faith interjects.

“What would you know about it, Faith?” Dawn interrupts. “ He might have lost it again”.

“ I know I nearly died getting his soul back into him, Dawn. I have been inside his mind. It’s not like a book. You don’t just ...ooops... lose it. It takes powerful mojo to make him lose his soul” Faith replies, glaring at Dawn.

“QUIET” Giles has finally lost his temper. All four of the women look at him, surprised.

“ I don’t know what is going on between you four” He says, quietly, but with an edge “And I don’t really care. But I do know that this is serious. We’re facing a serious battle, probably tougher than the First. You four bickering like children is not going to help. You need to be united, or we might as well quit now!”

“Fine by me” Buffy says.

“Buffy, you don’t mean that!” Willow says, shocked.

“ Imeanmean it , Will. Giles, exactly how many times do me and mine have to risk it all to save the world? There are thousands of slayers out there. How about someone else take up the burden for once?”

Giles looks at Buffy. The last thing he wants is to put more on her shoulders. But what choice does he have?

“Buffy, it isn’t like there is a choice here. The prophecy almost is written for ….” But Buffy interrupts him.

“Giles, those prophecies are so vague, they could be written for anyone. What if I had never been born, Giles? Would the world be over now? I don’t think so. I think it’s just easier to get us, because we are close and convenient. Well, I’m tired of being close and convenient. When do we get to have a life, Giles? EVER? Or do we have to die? Is that it? No life, just keep going ‘til you’re dust? I could see that when I… and Faith, were the only ones. But now? I can’t buy that anymore!” Buffy is fuming

“ B…I don’t think this is the time…” Faith starts, but Buffy cuts her off, too.

“When is the time Faith? When were in the heat of battle? Do you want to die, Faith? I certainly don’t want to die! Does everyone at this table have a death wish but me?” Buffy is nearly screaming it out now.

“Buffy…” Dawn starts

“ Buffy, it’s ok…” Willow starts

“B…Calm down…” Faith starts.

Buffy cuts them all off “ No, I won’t calm down. And NO, it’s nK. HK. How can I think it’s ok, when I might lose one of you ? Two of you? All of you? Do you think I can really go on with life, if one of you dies? You Willow? My best friend forever? If you die? I can accept that? I don’t think so. Dawn? My sister? I can stand by and watch you die? No way. Faith? My god, I can’t even think of life without you. Giles? The man who has been like my father?….God. I can’t take this. I can’t see any of you die, or hurt. I … I… I don’t want to die, either, but I would rather die than watch one of you die. And the slayers? Those girls? Who barely have had a chance at life yet. How many of them will die? How is this fair? How? No. I won’t do it. I won’t be party to it. I’m so gone.” Buffy turns, grabs her coat, and storms out of the house.

Everyone at the table is stunned. They all knew, in their way, that Buffy had problems with this. But they never expected her to just blow up like that. They had gotten used to the persona of Buffy, and had forgotten the person, somewhere. They had forgotten how hard she had taken it when the potentials died, fighting the first. How she took blame for every mistake, every misstep. She was big on sharing credit, but not on sharing responsibility.

Faith stands up, and says “ I better go after her”. She grabs her coat, and leaves.

~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~

Faith doesn’t have far to go.

She finds Buffy standing by the car, the key in her hand. She is looking at the key as if she doesn’t understand what it’s for.

“So, is that it, B? Are you leaving, then?” Faith asks, quietly.

Buffy looks at her, and answers “ I don’t know Faith. I… just don’t know”

“ Where you going , B? Do you know?” Faith asks, gently

Buffy shakes her head.

“Well, when you know, B. let me know, ‘k? So I can come too?” Faith says.

Buffy looks at Faith. Her expression is unreadable.

“B, look. For me it’s simple. All I want is 5 more minutes of your time. Then, I want the 5 minutes after that, and then the 5 minutes after that. Where we are, what we’re doing together, doesn’t make a difference to me. If it’s waiting tables at some greasy spoon, or fighting some Big Bad. All I care is that I’m with you. I don’t care if the universe ends in a million years, or tomorrow. As long as my last few minutes are with you. So, if you want to skip this one, that’s ok by me. As long as we’re together, ok?”

“ I knou wou would rather die, than see one of us dead. But, B. do you think any of us want to see you dead? You’ve died, twice. I didn’t know you for the first time, but I knew you for the second time. And despite being in prison, despite all the crap we had between us, I nearly died when I heard. I know my heart felt like it had been ripped out of my chest. Because I knew that I would never get to make it up to you. With you. I knew I would never get to love you, like I wanted to. So please, don’t die baby. Don’t do foolish stuff that’ll get you killed. I promise I will do my best to live, if you do your best to live. Ok?”

Buffy’s face is anguished, but slowly she’s accepting the inevitable “ We have to do this, don’t we?” She says. Her eyes are pleading with Faith to tell her no.

Faith sighs. She knows they do, whether they want to, or not.

“I’m afraid we do, B. I don’t lik eit either, but I don’t see any choice” Faith says, with more than a little regret.

Buffy’s shoulders slump. She feels all the weight of the world crashing down on her again.

“ Promise me Faith” Buffy says. “ Promise me you’ll never leave me. I don’t think I can live without you anymore.”

Faith doesn’t like lying to Buffy. But she knows Buffy is asking her something no one can promise.

“ I promise, baby. I won’t ever leave you. I can’t live without you either”

The Chosen Two, arms around each other’s shoulders, walk back into the house.

~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~&~~

Buffy walks back into the room with Faith.

Everyone is still at the table, but turn to look at her when she enters. She looks at them all, still trying to save the world, and feels ashamed of herself.

“Hey, Guys” She says, quietly. She is staring at the floor. “ I’m sorry I went nuclear…” But she doesn’t get to finish.

They are all up, surrounding her, hugging her tightly. They continue to hug her until, because she can’t breathe, she says “ Ummm…guys…oxygen is getting to be an issue here” . The break the hug, and all laugh a little. She goes around, giving each a hug, reserving the biggest for Dawn. She smiles, putting on a brave face for her.

“Well, Dawnie, looks like you’re gonna be in the middle of all this” She says. “ I guess we’re gonna have to work you’re ass off getting you trained.”

Dawn just holds her tight, and says “ I’m so sorry, Buffy. For everything.”

Buffy replies, “ I know, Dawnie. Me too.”

They break the embrace, and everyone sits back down at the table. They start to plot how they’re going to defeat the newest Big Bad on the block.
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What are we gonna do now?