Chapter 21-25

Chapter 21: Family Dinner


The squad ran to the top of the hill where they dropped off their gear, and went inside for much needed showers. An hour later Buffy walked out of her room dressed in an all black pants suit with gold accents, a gold cross around her neck, gold braided bracelet, her hair was up, and she wore black pumps. She walked down the stairs and headed into the double doors of the cafeteria. She went to the rear of it, to a back office. The cooks were a flurry of activity preparing the evening meal, cutting roast, preparing rotisserie chicken, and making salads. Buffy knocked on the door to the office, “Hello…”

“Come in…” Mariana Gomez said from behind her desk. Sitting in two chairs in front of her were Kathy Becker and Karen Tucker.

“Hi…I’m Buffy,” she said to Kathy and Karen.
“Come in Miss. Summers, they know who you are, these are my two assistants, Kathy and Karen. Please, close the door,” Mariana said as she motioned her towards an empty office chair.

“It’s so very nice to finally talk with you, Buffy…So, you are the head Slayer?” Mariana asks.

“That’s me…But I prefer Slayer in charge.”

Kathy tried to contain a giggle as Mariana shot her a glance.

“Buffy, we would like to thank you for your work, for saving that child, for the work you all do,” Mariana replied.

“You’re welcome…I just wanted to check with you and go over a few last minute details,” Buffy said with a smile. “Who will be serving the evening meal?” she then asked.

“It will be the three of us,” Mariana answered.

“Do you require a change in the menu, Miss. Summers? Karen asked.

“No…unless there is a problem,” Buffy added.

“No problem, Miss. Summers. We have prepared roast, rotisserie chicken, au-gratin potatoes, rolls, and salad; for dessert we have cheese cake and key lime pie,” Karen answered.

“Oh… we all want you to be in dresses when you serve the evening meal…if that’s not a problem, Mrs. Gomez,” Buffy added as she stood up.

“No problem at all! We will be ready!” Mariana said as she stood up and offered her hand.

Buffy shook Mariana’s hand, “It was very nice to meet you all,” then she walked out of the office and closed the door behind her.

“What’s up with that, Mariana?” Karen asked.

“Don’t forget that we ultimately work for them, the Slayers, all of this is set up by Mr. Van Helsing to give them some semblance of a normal life! If she wants us in Mr. Chicken outfits, that’s exactly what she gets…Do both of you understand that?” Mariana asks.
“Yes…I understand!” Karen said.

“Me too, Mariana,” Kathy adds.

“Besides, if the two of you ever open up that catering business, you may be asked to do all kinds of weird a$$ sh!t!” Mariana said as her and the girls started to laugh.

Buffy walked out of the cafeteria, pulled out a cell phone and dialed.

“Xander, did you talk to them?”

“Yeah, Buffy, but Giles and Arthur might not like it.”

“Just do it…let me take care of everything!” Buffy said as she hung up and headed towards the stairs that led to the infirmary. She stopped at a closet and pulled out a package, then walked directly into the infirmary.

Dr. Kidare and Christina were at a table drawing pictures. Dr. Kidare was dressed in a full-length dark blue dress, her blonde hair up, silver earrings, and a silver ankle bracelet.

“Hi Dr. Kidare…how’s our patient?” Buffy asks, then adds, “That’s a real pretty dress Lori.”

“Hey!” Christina closed the distance between her and Buffy, and dove into her arms.

“Where have you been? Faith escaped and she hasn’t been back!” Christina stated.

“Well…it looks like you’re all better! Honey, I would have come to see you earlier, but I had to talk to the people who are making us dinner.” Buffy answered as memories of meeting her own mother when she came home flooded her with emotions. As she put Christina down and handed her a package, Buffy was barely able to hold back the wave of emotions as Christina looked up at her.

“For…me! What is it?” Christina asked.

“Well, why don’t you open it?” Buffy asks as she leads Christina by the hand to the table.

Christina ripped open the package and pulled out a beautiful dark blue velvet dress with white lace, a small purse, and black leather dress shoes.

“Thank you…it’s beautiful…but I don’t really wear dresses, I only wore a dress when I was a baby,” Christina said.

“Well, the Doctor and I are wearing dresses, and all of your sisters are wearing dresses, and we're not babies,” Buffy said.

Christina thought about it for a second and said “O.K.” as she gave Buffy a big hug.

Buffy and Dr. Kidare talked while Christina got cleaned up.

“Lori, we already knew that the monks made Dawn from my blood, but we never knew how! I just don’t want Dawn to get her hopes up about…you know, becoming a Slayer,” Buffy stated.

“Well…Buffy, I don’t think she does. I think that she is content about being a Watcher,” Dr. Kidare responded.

"The problem is that she wants to fight alongside her Slayer,” Buffy said.

“Didn’t Mr. Giles fight along side you?” Lori asks.

“Not all the time, I patrolled alone mostly,” Buffy answered, “Dawn wants to fight alongside Choi-Ann as if she were Kit Bothwell…or something!”

“I’m Sorry, I don’t know who he is,” Dr. Kidare responded.

“Oh…Giles has us all on this big study kick! He was the Watcher of India Cohen, The Slayer whom I replaced.”

“The Slayer you replaced after her death…right?” Dr. Kidare asks.

“Right, unfortunately that’s how it works,” Buffy replied.

“You think that by letting Dawn take on the role as Watcher, she will want to achieve so bad that she might get killed in the process of protecting her Slayer.”

“Exactly. But Lori, on the other hand, I’ve never seen Dawn with so much drive, so much desire.”
“Almost as if she was meant to do this,” Lori added, “Buffy, she has a hell of a lot more than you did when you started out, and her Slayer is not alone! I’m not the Sgt. Maj., I can’t advise you as a leader; however, I believe it is your job as leader to make sure that no Watcher or Slayer is ever caught alone in a bad situation,” Dr. Kidare finished as Christina walked out of the bathroom.

“Christina, come here… you’re so beautiful,” Buffy said as Christina ran over and sat on her lap.

“I don’t think you are the same girl that was brought here last night,” Lori said.

“I’m just me,” Christina replied as she shrugged her shoulders.

“Buffy, will you help me with my make up?”

“Sure…when your twenty-one!” Buffy added.

“I really don’t use makeup…ever, but everybody else is.”

“Are you hungry? I think dinner is just about ready, how about we go see your sisters,” Buffy said as she kissed Christina on the top of the head.

“I’m still mad at Faith! She left me,” Christina said as she looked up at Buffy.

“Yeah, join the club!” Buffy replied.

“Are you mad at Faith too?” Christina asked.

“Not any more, honey…not any more.” Buffy said with a smile.

“Then…me neither,” Christina added.

The three of them walked hand in hand up the stairs towards the conference room.

When the trio walked into the conference room, Giles was seated in front of the fireplace. Asano on his left seated next to Willow, Dawn and Arthur seated at his right. Around the table, next to Dawn, were Choi-Ann, Vi, Asano, Faith, Michael, Scott, and Kelly. Everyone stood up when Christina walked in with Buffy and Dr. Kidare. Buffy walked Christina over to where Giles was seated and as she passed in front of Faith, she stuck out her tongue.

“What was that all about, Faith?” Michael asked.

“She’s pissed that I ditched the little runt.” Faith said.


Mariana moves a cart into the conference room, steam rolling off of it. She was dressed in a long gold colored evening gown, gold hoop earrings, and black leather shoes. Kathy walked in pushing a salad cart, wearing a light blue sundress, and white leather shoes with gold buckles, and small diamond stud earrings. Karen soon followed them in with a cart filled with corn, rolls and mashed potatoes; she was dressed in a long flowing pink evening gown, a silver broach, and light brown shoes.


Mariana, Karen, and Kathy started to serve dinner, placing platters of roast beef, chicken, huge bowels of salad, mashed potatoes, rolls, and at Xanders request, pork chops.

Xander, dressed in a black with red pin striped suit, with a burgundy tie, and black dress shoes, was walking down the hall with Frank, Tracy, and Danny. Frank had on a dark button down shirt, beige Dockers, cordovan leather shoes, and a gold chain. Tracy was dressed in a dark blue sundress, black leather heels, and she had her hair up. Danny was in a brand new pair of jeans and a red button down shirt, and a pair of dress boots.

“What’s the deal Mr. Harris, we move some tables and chairs for the Slayers, why did we have to get dressed up to do it?” Danny asks.

“So they can have a nice sit down dinner, like Buffy wants, then we can go to the Paragon to have a good time,” Xander says. “Oh, Danny… I have asked you not to call me sir.”

“Sorry, but I have never had a boss before,” Danny responds.

Xander and his crew walk in and stand against the wall waiting to move something. Mariana walks out to the hall and comes back in pushing a drink cart containing ice-cold milk, sodas, juice, coffee, and alcohol beverages. With an approving nod from Buffy, she starts to walk out the double doors followed by Karen and Kathy.
“Wait…Mariana,” Buffy calls out.

“Is there any thing else, Miss. Summers?” Mariana asks as Karen and Kathy stop in their tracks.

“Yes…We can’t begin until all of the guests sit down,” Buffy replies with a smile.

Xander looks over at Tracy, as she notices seven empty chairs. He motions her Frank, and Danny to sit down.

“Over here, Mariana, come sit next to me and Buffy,” Christina says as Mariana looks at Karen and Kathy, and simply nods.

Everyone starts to sit down as the Sgt. Maj. walks in, wearing a black double-breasted suit with small burgundy pinstripes, a burgundy tie, black leather shoes, and a pair of gunpowder gray Gargoyle sunglasses. He takes a seat next to Asano and Faith. As soon as everyone was seated, the leadership of the Sanctuary stood up; Giles, Arthur, Asano, Dawn, Sgt. Maj. Douglas, Xander, Faith and Buffy, and proceeded to serve the rest of the guests.

“Christina, do you want some potatoes?” Buffy asks her.

“Yes…please, and another roll,” Christina adds.

After everyone was served, including the leadership, they sat down.

“Christina, do you have a god who you would like to pray to before we start?” Asano asks.

“Yes, my Mommy and my Daddy and I used to pray before we ate…before they had to go away.” Christina said as she bowed her head, “Dear Lord, bless my Mommy and Daddy, and all of these nice people, and Lord, thank you for Buffy and Faith who rescued me…you’re supposed to bow your head, Faith,” Christina said as she peeked up, “I have to go now, because I’m really hungry…Amen.” Then she looks up and sticks her tongue out at Faith again.

“Hey…you little tike…I’m going to rip out that tongue and beat you with it.” Faith snaps at her.

“Faith…she’s just a kid.” Buffy says.
“Little bit, knows I’m playing with her,” Faith says as she looks over at Christina and sticks her tongue out.

“So Xander, you guys going to the Paragon after dinner?” Michael asks.

“Yeah, you wanna come?” Xander asks his friend.

“Me and Kelly will come along, but Scott, Eddie, and Arthur are going to stay here to back up Dawn, if she needs it!” Michael answers.

Danny looked over at Dawn, and as their eyes met they both quickly looked away. “She’s…so beautiful, that’s the leaders sister…” Danny thought to himself. “I don’t, care I’m asking her out…kill me!”

“Dawn, is your team ready?” Giles asks.

“One hour after dinner break, so we don’t cramp up, and not the Midol kind, another hour to rehearse, briefing, draw equipment, and deploy…yeah, in two hours we will be on ground,” Dawn answers, while taking another glance over at Danny.

“Let me go…can I go Buffy?” Christina asks.

“You just got out of the infirmary. Plus remember, we were going to have a talk about you Slaying,” Buffy reminds her.

“Are you leaving me?” Christina asks.

“I’m going to be close, in case Dawn needs my help,” Buffy answers.

“Who is going to stay with me?” Christina asks.

“I will, you can help me in the radio room,” The Sgt. Maj. answers.

“O.K. but you can see my room first, I have a new Play Station, and the new Michele Branch CD,” Christina says.

The Sgt. Maj. hesitates feeling uncomfortable and says, “That…would be…alright”

“Man…I feel your pain, big Sarge, I would much rather be ripping the heads off of demons then to be stuck in your shoes tonight,” Faith replies snickering while The Sgt. Maj. shoots her an icy stare.
“My bad…I’m just saying,” Faith replies as she holds her hands up.

Buffy sits back and takes a look around as everyone was engaged in conversation. She was feeling proud of herself, dinner turned out to be exactly how she planned it.

Dawn gave some instructions to Kennedy, as she headed upstairs to change. Danny walked over to where Dawn was standing.

“Hi, my name’s Danny…I know you’re busy tonight, but I mean, whenever you’re free I was wondering…”

“Yes,” Dawn replied cutting him off.

“All right, we can talk later if you want…I mean when you get back…good luck,” Danny says.

“Thank you…” Dawn says her words trailing off as she looked down and watched him walk away.

Choi-Ann walks up and says something in her native language. Dawn looks over at Asano and shrugs her shoulders as Choi-Ann runs off before translation could be made.

“Loosely translated, she says you are big Ho!” Asano says laughing.

Dawn chases after her Slayer, as Xander, Kelly, Tracy, Danny, and Frank went to the Paragon.

Willow and Dr. Kidare went downstairs to set up a trauma station for possible casualties. Arthur, Giles, and Asano talked by the fireplace sipping Brandy, trying to stay out of Dawns way; Giles already saw a look earlier that he recognized, as I don’t want any help.

CHAPTER 22: THE MISSION


An hour after dinner, Dawn assembled her team down in the Armory; they sat in some folded metal chairs in front of a white board, and a large map of Cleveland. As everyone took their seats, Dawn approached the Sgt. Maj.

“I’m going to need that weather and light data, Sgt. Maj.”

He hands Dawn some papers as Asano sits down next to Choi-Ann to translate.

“Alright, listen up, everyone take out a pen & paper, please; hold all questions until the end…the Task Organization is Alpha team with a two veteran mobile backup unit. The Situation: numerous police reports of heightened wild dog attacks, Liken activity with normal Vampire activity; there may be a time where we may get caught in the middle. Enemy forces, Liken we know very little about, Vampires, there are three varieties here in Cleveland. Ronin, three hundred year old Samurai and Ninja Vampires, very experienced, very tough; not sure of their location at this time. The Devil’s Seraphim, fifty plus strong, we believe that they operate out of a high-rise complex off of Ridge Road, very tough, very mean. Cleveland local Vampires are normal and run of the mill,” Dawn continued.

“Friendly forces are a back up for the Hummvee with Buffy and Faith, and the Sanctuary can send out a strike team, if necessary, from the Paragon. The mission is to conduct a mobile movement to a designated drop off point, conduct a foot patrol including a sweep of the high school, a sweep down wind of the Rocky River Reservation, and a sweep of the docks to gather information on the Likens location. This is a Recon mission, but we will defend ourselves if threatened.” Dawn said as she reached for a glass of ice water.

“Execution, Alpha leads out in the Suburban followed by the Hummvee. We will travel east on Detroit Rd. for eight miles. Then head north on Route 237 for two miles, this first leg is phase line blue. Proceed east on Detroit Ave. for two and a half miles to Lakewood High where we will park the Suburban; this is phase line red. The Hummvee will keep a distance and maintain radio communications. Our foot patrol will consist of Alpha traveling in a wedge formation from the high School to Madison Ave. moving west, parallel to the road, sticking to the shadows; this point is phase line orange. Until we hit Rocky River Reservation, this is phase line yellow. We will then sweep north towards the docks, at phase line black, and move back to the truck, end of mission; heading back is phase line purple. Service and Support, all weapons and vehicles will be drawn from here; Xander and his crew modified the weapons adding silver so they will be effective against Likens. Only in self defense, remember that these are humans all but three days out of the month.” Command and Signal, from the front gate Kennedy is in charge, followed by me, Buffy, Faith, Choi-Ann, Vi. We will be operating on a primary frequency of 935 MHz, and are secondary is 941 MHz. We will have five radios with us one in the Hummvee, Kennedy will carry one, and I will have the back up; the mobile unit will have a mounted radio and a handheld. Alpha team’s call sign is kilo delta, the mobile unit is bravo foxtrot, and home base is sierra mike, the challenge is kitty, and the password is ‘fantastico’. Each one of you carries two red flares… if we get separated, and you are in danger, fire your flare; we will come to you.”

Dawn takes another drink of water momentarily glancing towards Buffy. Their eyes met as Dawn continued; Buffy, with a look of total amazement continued to take notes.

Asano was whispering translations as fast as he could, Choi-Ann was frantically taking notes in Cantonese, Dawn saw this and started to slow down, relaxing a little.

“Weather and Light Data, tonight and the next three nights there will be cloudless skies and a full moon, winds moving from north to south at six miles an hour. Temperature is sixty seven degrees, humidity at fifty four percent. Sundown is at eighteen twenty hours, sunrise is at zero six twenty. Kennedy will be in the lead with a Katana, Wakizashi and inlaid silver stake. On her immediate right is Choi-Ann, on her left is Vi. All members carry the same weaponry, except me. I will also carry a crossbow with silver tipped bolts. The flanks will be covered with Eddie on the right, and Scott on the left. I will travel just behind Kennedy, in the center. If any body has any questions, now would be the time to ask.” Dawn says.

Faith raises her hand, and Dawn nods her head, “Go ahead“

“Excuse me, but…how do I get you as my watcher?"

Dawn blushes knowing that was the best compliment any one could have given her, and that it was coming from the most unlikely candidate.

“Thank you…one more thing, once the ground unit leaves the vehicle, Kennedy, I need you to find a patrol base, a place where we can set up a perimeter. A secluded area away from any visible light to allow our eyes and ears to adjust to darkness and the sounds of the operational area, this would be a good place to apply camouflage. If no one else has any questions…Team leaders Kennedy and Buffy, I want a mission brief-back in forty minutes, let’s move it,” Dawn finished her briefing as hands started raising throughout the Armory.
“Yes, go ahead, Kennedy,” Dawn said.

“Excuse me, but what’s a brief-back?” Kennedy asks with a confused look.

“Yeah, General Summers, what is a brief-back?” Faith yells out.

“Sorry, a brief-back is a re-statement of the key points of the briefing, to ensure that every member is clear on the mission,” Dawn states.

Everyone started to draw weapons and equipment, as Faith and Buffy ran over to Dawn.

“Wow, where did you learn how to do that?” Buffy asks.

“I mean it, Dawn, you’re the Shit!” Faith adds.

“The Sgt. Maj. helped me lay it out, he said he would show you how to do it at leadership class.” Dawn adds.

“You are awesome, Dawn, I don’t think I have to worry about you… anymore,” Buffy says.

The Sgt. Maj. gets up as Xander walks in the door.

“Xander, issue weapons to the squad,” the Sgt. Maj. said as he walked over to Dawn.

“Buffy, Faith, watch over our people tonight, go draw your equipment; I have to speak to Dawn for a moment… alone.” Buffy and Faith nodded as they headed to the weapons cage.

The Sgt. Maj. motions Dawn over to a table with maps of Cleveland opened across the top, and he sits down next to her.

“Relax, you gave that operation’s order in record time, you have plenty of time to be on target. I need you to slow down a little, you can give out tons of information, but if no one can copy it down it doesn’t do any good. Dawn, I have trained soldiers all of my military life, some demon strike teams, for twenty-three years I have trained enlisted men and officers. No one came in front of me without extensive training, to get to the level where they were accepted into some of the schools where I’ve taught. I have never in my life seen a solider pick up the concept of a five paragraph operations order in one class, like the one you asked me to give you this afternoon. I am very proud of you, you have the makings of a fine leader. Two things that I want you to remember. One, don’t lead to impress, your Slayer will follow you because of the respect, and that is earned. Two, don’t ever leave a Slayer or Hunter behind, dead or alive, the person or persons who you are responsible for do not get left for the enemy to ravage. Now get moving.”

The Sgt. Maj. stood up with Dawn, who nodded and ran for the weapons cage.

“In another world she would be a young girl… perhaps a niece or young daughter, asking my advice on some life matter, but in this world she is a seventeen-year-old, leader of Slayers, some who may not come back alive… it’s never easy,” The Sgt. Maj. thought while he walked to the radio room, where Christina sat patiently, to set up communications.

“She’s real smart isn’t she?” Christina asked.

“Much more than we ever imagined!” The Sgt. Maj. answered the junior Slayer.

Chapter 23: The Sacrifice

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport


“Attention passengers, we are starting our descent, we will be landing soon. Please, place you trays and seats in the upright position and put on your seatbelts. Thank you for flying with American Airlines.”

Natasha put her Walkman and her Romanian translation of Tales of the Slayer, Vol.3 bookmarked at Buffy Anne Summers, in her black carry on bag, pulling out her passport and Identification. After the plane came to a complete stop and the seat belt light went out, she got up out of her seat and headed for the exit carrying her travel bag. She was dressed in a light pink jacket, her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders; she had on a matching pink shirt and a low-cut pink wraparound dress, and white shoes. After checking in at the front desk, Natasha walked behind a young couple holding hands with a young girl. They were heading to the rapid transit station by concourse B. Natasha felt the hair stand up on the nap of her neck as she got to the bottom of the steps and rounded a corner.

Four men had the young couple against the wall, the child was screaming. They had on cutoff jean jackets with The Devil’s Seraphim embroidered on the back with yellow and read lettering.

"Leave my Mommy alone,” the young girl screamed.

The four bikers turned; their yellow eyes burned underneath their extended brow, with fangs snarling. One of them produced a dog collar and grabbed the young girl by the arm as she held on to her father’s grip. Natasha produced a dogwood stake. The Romanians believe that the dogwood was the tree that the son of god was crucified on, that’s why to this day the Dogwood never grows large enough to ever be used in that manner; it is said that in ancient times it grew to a large tree. They believe that it holds special vampire slaying properties.

Natasha just liked the way it felt in her grip. She closed the distance in a split second, grabbing the one that held the young girl by the arm. She back hand staked him, first front kicking the vamp on her left and without re-planting her foot back kicking the one on her right breaking the grip on the couple. Natasha looked directly at the father:
“Take your Family out of here, now!”

The family ran back up the steps, as four more of The Devil’s Seraphim ran out of the subway tunnel. Natasha quickly saw she was outnumbered. She was resolved to go out with a fight. She narrowed her eyes and went into berzerker mode. Natasha fought hard, kicking, spinning and dusting the two still on the deck with her. The other four grabbed her legs and arms as one of them shocked her with a tasser and placed the dog collar around her neck kicking, punching, and stomping her unconscious body.

“This one is mine. I will make her pay for killing three of us; she will pay for a long time, before she dies.”

They all start laughing, while dragging her through the subway tunnel to where they had parked their Harley Davidson motorcycles. They drove off leaving parked the three bikes that no longer had owners.

***********

The Squad changed into Gore-Tex black jumpsuits, black jungle boots, and black tactical vests. Xander walked around handing out tubes of jet black camouflage face-paint, telling each person not to apply it until they are on foot, so the local police, if pulled over, don’t get the wrong idea. The Arms Room was alive with the sound of equipment being checked, packed, and taped. Dawn was still in charge until they hit the gates of the Sanctuary, a rule that Arthur set in place and would not waver. The Slayer must have full field control once the mission has started; this has been stressed often enough.

“Alright, everyone line up for inspection!” Dawn belted out.

Lined up in a file, Buffy, Faith, Kennedy, Vi, Choi-Ann, Eddie, and Scott spread out their equipment in front of them. Dawn walked in front of the squad starting with Buffy.

“Jump up and down,” Dawn said as she checked Buffy’s equipment, and water.

Buffy gave Dawn a confused look, thinking that her sister might be trying to play a joke, but seeing very little change in her facial features. Buffy jumps up and down three times.

“Tape that down, lose the change in your pocket, conduct a radio check, and make sure everyone has water…Slayer!” Dawn says as she winks with the eye facing away from the squad.

She does this with every member of the squad, except for the eye-winking thing, under the watchful eye of the Sgt. Maj., asking each member questions about the mission, ensuring that every one had a deep understanding of his or her role in the operation.

The squad made final preparations grabbing extra batteries for the radios and the night vision devices, checking these in the Sanctuary’s many closets with the lights off. Dawn walks over to the large military map of Cleveland, Buffy and Kennedy followed her over to give their brief-backs.

She asked intricate questions of their role and the role of all team members, every detail questioned until as the Sgt. Maj. would say,

“A light flicks off in their heads,” a sign of deep understanding.

“I have lead or gone alone, when I felt it was necessary, on thousands of missions. Sometimes I planned the mission, sometimes Giles would plan it, but I have never been a part of mission where every single detail was analyzed. The direction and speed of the wind, the amount of visible light in the area…” Buffy thought to herself. “I have underestimated the women that my sister is growing into.”

Dawn released the two Slayers who then headed for their teams.


Chapter 24: Maneuvers


Dawn looks at her watch, a Casio G-Shock that Giles and Arthur bought for her.

“Lets load up,” she says as she grabs her rucksack and heads towards the steps.

“You heard her, let’s move!” Kennedy belted out as she grabbed her equipment and headed for the steps followed closely behind by the rest of the squad.

The Hummvee and the Suburban were parked in front; both vehicles were gassed up and running, with extra medical equipment, and stretchers for the wounded already loaded up; all ready for the squad who hit the top of the steps. Buffy and Faith jumped into the Hummvee, with Buffy driving. The rest of the squad jumped into the Suburban, with Dawn at the wheel, Kennedy sat in the passenger seat, her rucksack between her legs, readjusting her Katana so that it was not visible from the window.

The vehicles went through the check point, the security guard briefly spoke to Dawn, then opened the gate. The Suburban took a right on Detroit Rd. as Dawn picked up her radio.

“Sierra Mike, this is Kilo Delta…come-in…over.”

“This is Sierra Mike, go ahead, Kilo Delta”

“Sierra Mike, this is Kilo Delta, phase line blue, I say again…phase line blue, I’m now turning control over to Kilo, how copy? Over.”

“That’s a good copy, Kilo Delta, this is Sierra Mike, out.” The Sgt. Maj. said into the microphone, then hung it up, as he glanced over to Christina.

“You talk…funny”

“It’s called radio communications, it’s to keep your sisters safe,” the Sgt. Maj. replied.

“Are they in danger?” Christina asked.

The Sgt. Maj. regretted his last comment, knowing a twelve-year old just baited him.

“Christina…are you worried about the girls?” He asked.

“Yes…this is all pretty weird, but it explains a lot of the things I’ve seen this summer.”

“Buffy and Faith will be close by, I think they can take care of themselves,” The Sgt. Maj. said.

“Buffy won’t let me do any of this.”

“I wouldn’t let you do any of this, either.”

The Suburban traveled along Route 237 keeping to the speed limit, with the Hummvee trailing. Everyone was silently thinking about their role in the mission, some were looking over maps. Dawn pulled into Lakewood High and parked near a section of woods. Buffy parked in an alley across the street facing in the direction of Alpha team.

Alpha unloaded, grabbed their gear and headed into the woods, after moving a hundred meters into the wood line. Kennedy raised her arm, palm facing forward; this meant halt. She pulled out her radio,

“Sierra Mike, this is Kilo Delta…come in, over.”

“Kilo Delta…this is Sierra Mike, go ahead, over.”

“Phase line red, say again, phase line red…how copy, over?”

“That’s a good copy, Kilo Delta…out” The Sgt. Maj. said as turned down the squelch dial.

Buffy, listening in on her radio, starts the Hummvee and heads west in a route parallel to Madison Ave. Then she drives to a bridge off of Riverside Dr. and waits for the foot patrol. Alpha team crossed Madison Ave. in force, Kennedy taking point and kept route ninety on her left.

The fire team stayed in the strip of woods that paralleled Route 90, keeping to the shadows, the fast moving cars on the highway covered any noise that Alpha made. Kennedy signaled the fire team to halt.

“Sierra Mike this is Kilo Delta come in over…” Kennedy whispered into the microphone, as Alpha took up positions around her taking a knee, and facing out.

“Kilo Delta…this is Sierra Mike…come in…over” the Sgt. Maj. answered leaning back to keep one eye on Christina, he didn’t want a transmission to come in that would have her worry.

“Sierra Mike…this is Kilo Delta, phase line orange…say again, phase line orange, how copy…over.”

“Read you Lima Charlie…proceed with your mission…Sierra Mike…out,” The Sgt. Maj. replied as he glanced over at Christina.

“Your sisters are almost to the reservation, this won’t take much longer…I am afraid I’m not a very good Babe…I mean sitter.”

“How do you know where they are?” Christina asked, as she walked up and sat down on a chair next to his desk.

“Whenever one of your sisters calls in a different color, I know where they are on the map depending on which color she calls out.” The Sgt. Maj. answers the young Slayer, as he points out Alpha’s location on a large map of Cleveland.

Alpha team formed a tight perimeter. Back at the Sanctuary, Kennedy gave everyone a number from one to six, and the odd numbered members sat down and started to apply camouflage while the even numbered personal stood watch. They spent thirty minutes in complete silence, allowing their night-vision and hearing to adjust to their surrounding area.

Kennedy was staring out into pitch black woods, using a circular search pattern so her eyes would not play tricks on her; the outlines of the trees starting to come into view. She looked at her watch and stood up, the moonlight glistening across her tiger stripped face, the camouflage pattern Kennedy preferred. She motioned the team to move forward on a northern heading. She glanced back at Dawn; she wasn’t sure but she thought she smelt dog, a wet dog.

Alpha continued to move on the two point four miles along Route 90, avoiding any civilian traffic, maneuvering around obstacles. The team approached a ten-foot high fence; a large sign read Rocky River Reservation. Kennedy halted the fire team, she turned and pointed two fingers towards her eyes, she passed her fingertips across her throat signaling the security element to cross and clear the danger area.

Scott on the left and Eddie on the right moved past Kennedy and started to scale the fence dropping on the other side where they proceeded to clear the area in front of the them, to allow enough room for the rest of the fire team. Scott moved zigzagging his way back in view of Kennedy; he gave her the thumbs up, for all clear. The fire team climbed the fence taking a knee on the other side until Kennedy moved past Eddie and turned motioning the team forward. The Team moved into the woods one hundred meters, then took a knee, Kennedy in the center pulling out her Motorola; the fire team automatically formed a perimeter around their leader.

“Sierra Mike…this is Kilo Delta…come-in over” Kennedy said into the mic.

“Kilo Delta…this is Sierra Mike…come-in over.” The Sgt. Maj. replied, as he pointed out the fire team’s location on the map to Christina, not that she really understood, but it seemed to keep her involved.

“Sierra Mike, this is Kilo Delta…phase line yellow…say again, phase line yellow how copy…over.”

“Kilo Delta, this is Sierra Mike…read you Lima Charlie…Sierra Mike…out.”

Kennedy placed the radio’s microphone back on the clip hooked to her right shoulder and motioned the squad forward. Adrenaline starting to rush through her veins, she knew it wouldn’t be long until they were in the thick of it, Arthur said that the police constantly mentioned this area in police reports and communications traffic. Willow hacked into the local police department’s record section, and the Sgt. Maj. listened into a Uniden BCT8 police scanner, gathering intelligence.


Chapter 25: The Recruit


A terrifying scream broke the silence; it came from the fire team’s two o’clock. Kennedy froze in place; her right fist shot into the air, a signal that meant freeze. She turned around and glanced at Dawn, Kennedy signaled the fire team to a single file, because they would be moving into a thickly wooded area and she wanted to move fast. Kennedy glanced towards Dawn and nodded, then ran towards the scream, Alpha following close behind. Kennedy unclipped her radio as she ran up to a six-foot chain link fence that separated the reservation from a populated area. She held her arm up as the fire team halted and formed a tight perimeter.

“Sierra Mike…this is Kilo Delta…come-in, over.” Kennedy spoke into the radio, fighting the automatic reaction to start yelling.

“Kilo Delta, this is Sierra Mike come-in over…” the Sgt. Maj. sits straight in his chair knowing that this is an unscheduled call-in; Christina was alerted to the change in his position, knowing something must be wrong.

“Sierra Mike, this is Kilo Delta, we are a mile north of phase line yellow, heading in a northeast direction, responding to a scream in a populated zone…how copy…over?"

“Kilo Delta…proceed, we have your exact location, alerting the mobile unit, Sierra Mike…over.”

“Bravo Foxtrot, this is Sierra Mike…come-in over…” the Sgt. Maj. says trying to hide his anxious feelings; he had never experienced having a twelve-year old in his command post.

“Sierra Mike, this is Bravo Foxtrot…come-in over,” Buffy says into the radio.

“Bravo Foxtrot, move north on Route 2 loop south on Riverside Drive, Alpha is in the housing area on your three o’clock…how copy…over,” The Sgt. Maj. says while checking Alpha’s location.

“Sierra Mike, this is Bravo Foxtrot, read you Lima Charlie…out,” Buffy says not waiting for a response; every fiber of her was on alert, and Faith triggers on this.

“Hey, B, what’s got you spooked? They’re going to be alright…right?” Faith asks, “I mean like they’re trained…right?”

“Faith, we have been here less then a week!” Buffy responded.

“So…let’s get a move on…Slacker!” Faith said trying to break the tension.

Buffy looks over and fakes a smile as she punches the gas pedal to the floor. She heads north on Route 2, frantically looking for Riverside Ave., takes a right turn on Riverside and turns into a neighborhood looking for any sign of Alpha team.

***********

Dawn turns and covers the rear as Kennedy scales the fence, followed quickly by the young Watcher. Kennedy moves past Eddie and Scott’s position, resuming her place in front. They heard another blood curdling scream, closer this time. The squad moves straight for a two-story house as Kennedy halts the fire team. The woods opened up to a large backyard, Kennedy held her arm up, and pumped it up and down, as you would signal a fourteen wheeler to blow its horn, signaling the fire team to move at a double time.

They covered the distance to the back door fast; Kennedy bolted up the steps and went flat against the wall. She turned around to her fire team, held her hand up and counted with her fingers, Alpha got into their numerical order; Kennedy, Vi, Choi-Ann, followed by Dawn, Eddie, and Scott. They heard a loud crash from the inside along with a deep reverberating growl. Kennedy held up her right hand and counted to three, and on three Scott came up fast from the end of the line, and splintered the door.

Kennedy, Vi, and Choi-Ann ran through the shattered doorframe, and took positions on the team’s center, left, and right. Dawn rounded the corner, heading for the far side of the room. When a large shadow bolted from the other room, the business end of the young watcher’s crossbow followed her movement. They met two closely set red eyes, and she let the bolt fly as the creature let out an in-human scream and fell over. The beast’s gray hair was covered in the blood of the family that occupied the house. The silver embedded shaft protruding out of the eye socket glinted in the eerie moonlight. Dawn held her position as Kennedy moved to where they could clear the next room.

“That’s a frekin werewolf…Kennedy, I killed a frekin werewolf! Dawn said excited, as it was her first werewolf.
Kennedy looked over at Dawn, smiled and held one finger across her lips, “Shhhhhhh.”

“Sorry,” Dawn said in a quiet voice.

They entered what appeared to be the dining room, as Scott and Eddie cleared the Kitchen, and returned to give Kennedy the thumbs up, signaling all clear. Dawn, Vi, and Scott held the left side of the doorframe as Kennedy, Choi-Ann, and Eddie held the right. The body that lay in the foyer had already turned human. Kennedy looked everyone over and rocked forward three times, then ran into the next room followed by Choi-Ann, and Vi.

Kennedy placed her Katana back in her sheath, and pulled out her Wakizashi, the short sword. Everyone else did the same knowing that the Katana was too long to do any good in such a confined area. On three, they moved down the hallway, to a flight of stairs, they cleared the route with precision. The team covered every angle, every closet moving up the steps, to the upstairs bedrooms. Kennedy made it to the top of the steps, adrenaline surging, she felt a little dizzy, then when her head cleared she felt a sense of strength. When Alpha made it to Kennedy’s position, Scott covered the rear, as Eddie covered above.

Kennedy rocked three times, then bolted around the corner; two sets of fiery red eyes stared back at her. As soon as Kennedy felt Choi-Ann’s shoulder glance across hers, she rushed forward, instincts taking over. Kennedy crossed over to the far side of the hallway. Choi-Ann and Vi crossed near side, Dawn took up a position in the center, with her crossbow raised, she fired shooting through the neck of the closest werewolf; he writhed in a violent death roll on the floor. The other one attacked Kennedy, she went low as Choi-Ann and Vi attacked high, cutting the animal to pieces.

Alpha cleared a Den, a sewing room, then checked a bedroom. The fire team moved towards the last bedroom, the door was half open and it was the only room in the house with a light on. Kennedy went flat against the wall, as Alpha got into position. Kennedy counted to three, not really worried about making any noise, knowing that if she didn’t have them out of here soon they would have a hard time explaining three naked men sliced to ribbons throughout the house.

Kennedy crossed through the half open door; a streak of blood ran from top to bottom. She took up a position on the left, Vi and Choi-Ann crossed the room to the right, and Dawn moving in at their heels took up position in the center. The entire room was covered in blood, the bed held the remains of at least two adults. A young light skinned black girl crashed out of the closet, bowling over Dawn on the way towards the window. The window was large with thick curtains, open only a foot; the young woman dove through the curtains and window, bouncing off the ledge, crashing to the ground in a sea of glass. Dawn ran to the window as the girl got up and looked up at her.

”No!” Dawn yells as she climbs out to the ledge, hangs over the side, and drops followed by Alpha team. Kennedy fumbles to get a grip on her radio, Eddie and Scott run to Kennedy. “Boss, you want us to get her? ” Eddie asks.

“No way. If I’m not mistaken that’s a Slayer, the girl from school today, right Dawn?”

“She sure has the moves, and she’s freaking out. Sorry boys, we do this together,” Dawn answers.

“Why, because were just normal humans?” Scott asks.

“Well…Duh!” Kennedy answers.

“Alright, wedge formation…move-it.” Alpha re-forms the wedge as Kennedy puts the mic up to her mouth.

“Sierra Mike…this is Kilo Delta…come-in…over.”

“Kilo Delta, this is Sierra Mike…go ahead…over.” The Sgt. Maj. answers.

“Sierra Mike, alpha element is in pursuit of a young girl; condition unknown, believed to be a Victor Sierra…say again, young girl believed to be a Victor Sierra…how copy, over?"

“Kilo Delta, this is Sierra Mike, read you Lima Charlie…proceed with caution, Sierra Mike out.” The Sgt. Maj. says as he turns to Christina.

“It’s possible…that you will get another sister tonight.”

“Well she’s not getting my room,” Christina says as she crosses her arms, as The Sgt. Maj. just laughed.

Buffy and Faith heard the last transmission.

“Kilo Delta, this is Bravo Foxtrot…come-in…over.”

“Bravo Foxtrot, this is Kilo Delta…go ahead over,” Kennedy yelled into the mic as Alpha team ran into the woods.

“Kilo Delta, this is Bravo Foxtrot moving to bridge on Route 90…how copy over.”

“Good copy…Bravo Foxtrot...stand by at that location, Kilo Delta…out.”