Chapter 36-39

Chapter 36: Reindeer Games


The next morning, Buffy let them sleep in after the night mission that turned up nothing. It seemed that Mars, Xander, and The Sgt. Maj. had killed what was left of their attackers.

Buffy opened her eyes as the sun shined through her window, Christina was lying next to her and Mars was curled up at the foot of her bed. Buffy got up quietly as Mars lifted his head, “Errrrr”

“Shhhh, be quiet you big lug, we are going to have Xander make you a den or something. Yes, we are…Yes, we are,” Buffy said to Mars, talking to him as if he were a little baby, no, I’m not scratching your ear.”

Buffy took a quick shower, and dressed in her Karate uniform and New Balance running shoes closing, and after the door behind her, she ran down to the training field.

***

Everyone was formed, Dawn had them going through some stretching and conditioning drills. Buffy made it to the bottom of the hill and nodded to Dawn.

“I’ll take over now, Dawn. Everybody, bring it in,” Buffy said as the three fire teams surrounded her.

“First of all, I want to thank each and everyone of you for helping me get Christina back yesterday,” Buffy stated as she looked over at Naiya.

“We were hit last night by the Ninja Vamps and now that they know the location of the Sanctuary, the Ronin will strike next. No one leaves the compound unless you have a fire team with you, even if you are just going to the mall, all vehicles will have at all times weapons, recon, first aid, and assault kits Xander Sgt. Maj. report to me when that is accomplished,” Buffy said as Dawn tossed her a bottle of Gatorade.

“The Likens and The Devil’s Seraphim probably have a good idea where we are located, also. We have four new slayers: Kimberly, Naiya, Natasha, and Christina. I want Kimberly activated and she will join Charlie Team. Kennedy, Arthur, bring her up to speed. Naiya and Mars will join Alpha Team as active Slayer and Hunter. Mr. Giles, you can pay him in steaks, for what he did last night, give him his own cow and some vampires to play with,” Buffy stated looking at Naiya and smiling.

“It is my decision to make, but at this time Christina and Natasha will be in-active. We don’t need any thirteen and twelve year old slayers.”

“Aha, is that so,” Natasha said as she let go of Christina’s hand and walked up to Buffy. “I did not travel all this way to be In-active! I am active in my own country.”

“Well, princess, maybe you better get back on the bus and go back home, because you can’t play any reindeer games here,” Faith said intercepting the young slayer.

“Aha, so you would be Faith. I came by plane, you idiot!”

“Oh shit,” Xander said taking a step back.

Natasha walked up and stood inches from Faith.

“What ya gonna do, little…”

Natasha jumped up and spun clockwise performing a blinding spin kick that knocked Faith back and down the hill. Natasha landed on her feet and grounded her lead foot firmly into the ground, waiting Faith’s next move. Faith picked her self up and walked up to Natasha who front snap kicked her in the chin, and followed with a wicked crescent kick.

Everyone, including Buffy, was in complete shock; the skill this child possesses was incredible. Natasha shot a glance over at Willow,

“Thank you for last night, Willow.” Natasha said getting back into a fighting stance.

“Ah, sure,” Willow said smiling.

“That’s enough!” Buffy said.

“No, that’s not enough, because you are unwilling to properly train your own daughter, she almost died four times yesterday, because of her bravery, and she saved my life twice. She, like me, is a chosen rightful Slayer! And if you won’t train her, I will, and if you or anyone wish to try and stop me, hai sa va vad!” Natasha said as she grabbed Christina by the hand and strode up the hill followed by Mars.

Christina turned and gave her mother a mean look, “Mommy, that means bring it on, in Romanian, and that goes for me too.”

“Christina…Christina, come here!” Buffy yelled after her.

“What the hell just happened? Damn, they make them tough in Romania.” Faith said wiping the blood from her lip.

“What just happened is you underestimated a thirteen year old Slayer that has been training to be a Slayer since the age of five. Mostly with Colonel Victor Rozhkov, an ex- Russian Spetznatz commando, who is her Watcher and Father. You see, Natasha is Romania’s slayer and unlike here, their government not only know about her, but they support and fund her as well. I hear she has at her disposal a team of five commandos, attack and troop carrying helicopters, and a sixty million-dollar satellite specifically for her to hunt demons. Within her country she is regarded as a hero.” The Sgt. Maj. said.

“You could have let us know about that before, Sgt. Maj.” Faith said realigning her jaw.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t think we were going to try and beat her up a day after she left the hospital bed.”

“Hey, she hit me first!”

“Alright, so we did underestimate her, let her cool down and I will have a talk with her. I think everyone agrees we can make an exception for Natasha and bring her on as active.”

“Buffy, it’s not that easy, she came here to train with you. She doesn’t need us, the only reason she remains is Christina.”

“I’ll talk with her, Sgt. Maj. Now line everyone up for training,” Buffy said.


The Sgt. Maj. walked up the hill highly agitated. He went down into the armory and grabbed some stakes, two small black Karate Uniforms, and two pair of New Balance running shoes, then he walked up and knocked on Christina’s door.

“Go away, we’re not talking to anyone right now.” Christina yelled through the door.

“It’s the Sgt. Maj.”

Natasha answered the door; the Sgt. Maj. walked in and handed Christina the bundle, and then turned to Natasha.

“If you are going to train in your rooms today, I will have breakfast sent up. Here is a cell phone, call me if you need any special equipment, goodbye ladies.”

“Thank you, Sgt. Maj. I do remember you, you ate dinner at my house, and conducted missions with my father, when I was eight years old.”

“Natasha, it’s good to see you again, but we will talk later! Right now you have training to conduct.”

“Goodbye, Sgt. Maj.” Natasha said as she closed the door.

“Bye Sgt. Maj.” Christina yelled from her bed while she was petting Mars.

“Here, put these on, Christina,” Natasha said.

The two youngest slayers got dressed, Natasha wore a black belt and Christina wore a white belt.

Natasha spent the first thirty minutes showing Christina some stretching exercises and how to clear her mind before training. Then they stood up and Natasha showed her how to bow, and why.

“You Bow out of sign of respect for your teacher, our school, and fellow slayers, bend at the waist, bow in Romanian is ‘inclinare’”.

The two girls bowed to each other as Mars cleaned his paws and watched, flicking his ear.

“Alright, Christina, you are right handed; so turn to your side to ensure that your right hand is in the rear, with all of your vital targets turned away from an attacker. Place your feet shoulder width apart, your lead hand protects the left side of your body and head, while the right hand will protect the other side. Just as your elbow and forearm protect its designated side.”

“Now, the first thing we are going to learn is how to throw punch; roll your fingers up from the tips to the fist, tucking in the thumb, so you don’t break it off. I want you to keep it loose until the moment of contact, then tighten using the largest two knuckles as the weapon, understand? Good. At the moment of impact drive through your target, around four inches, this is for the kick as well, and recover back to your fighting stance as quickly as possible.”

“Now, Christina, show me your fighting stance, good, turn your hip more towards your target, your lead leg should have only thirty percent of your weight on it, whereas the rear leg should support seventy percent. Good, elbows in, yes, that’s right,” Natasha explained.

“The first of your weapons is the jab which is thrown loosely from your lead hand; its purpose is to feel out your opponent striking out at his weaknesses, like cobra striking out and returning to start position. Let’s try, gata inainte, this means ready front, and loveste, this means strike.”
Christina shot her jab out and recovered to her fighting position trying to remember all that was covered so far.

“I am going to count in Romanian, on each count shoot jab out and recover, alright? Pay close attention, gata inainte, loveste! Unu, doi, trei, patru, cinci, sase, keep elbow in, sapte, opt, noua, and zece! Very good, now other side. You should be as proficient with left lead as you are with right lead,” Natasha instructed.

Natasha went through the basic punches and kicks: the jab, cross, hook, ridge hand, uppercut, back fist, front kick, sidekick, back kick, hook kick and roundhouse. She had Christina perform every move on both sides of her body until she could do them flawlessly and then the two friends ate breakfast. Christina was completely soaked, but felt strangely satisfied; the two young slayers mapped out a training plan together. Natasha allowed an hour break, then had Christina stretch out and warm-up again so they could do some light contact sparring. Natasha blindfolded Christina and attacked her from different angles forcing the young slayer to use her other senses, and she had Mars do the same.


Natasha gave them another break, and they watched Underworld. Natasha wanted her to see a movie about vampires and werewolves, plus they both liked Kate Beckinsale. She had Christina watch the whole movie from a seated full split position practicing her punches as she watched the movie.
After lunch, Natasha drew a couple of Katana’s, Wakizasha’s, a compound bow, and some bolts for weapons training, followed by a class on improvised weapons training. Later they spent some time in the library, where Natasha gave her a class on Slayer History, including reading about Buffy.

Natasha taught her star and land navigation, communication, hand and arm signals, and mission planning up until dinner. They both went to sleep early, because after midnight they had a planned night patrol of Evergreen Westlake Cemetery.

***


Chapter 37: Sneaking Out


Natasha spent the night with Christina and Mars and woke them both up around midnight. The two young slayers got dressed in their black Karate GI’s and applied each others camouflage; they put on their recon packs and TAC vests and the three jumped out the window.

Natasha, with her long blonde hair tied up in a bun, took point showing Christina how to stay in the shadows and how to use the environment and terrain to her best advantage. The night patrol climbed to the top of the tool shed and dropped to the ground as Natasha noticed something about Mars; he was actually highly trained as point. As they dropped to the ground, Mars searched and cleared an area in a fifty meter perimeter around the two slayers, the returned back to the leader and liked her hand. Natasha had the patrol move one hundred meters into the wood line and after Mars cleared the area, they sat down in a thicket.

“What are we doing, Natasha?” Christina whispered.

“Shhhh, we remain here for thirty minutes in total darkness and allow our eyes and ears to adjust. There is gland behind your eye that if your eye does not receive any light, for around thirty minutes, will inject what is called liquid purple into your eyes to allow for limited night vision,” Natasha explained.

Christina starred as hard as she could, but couldn’t see Natasha in the pitch-black forest.

************

The Sgt. Maj. ran into the conference room where everyone was assembled.

“They’re gone! Christina, Natasha, and Mars, two radio’s, crossbows, a recon kit and a first aid kit,” The Sgt. Maj. says to a grief stricken Buffy.

“Giles, they’re going for payback! We need to move on the Devil’s Seraphim, now!” Buffy said wearing a look of worry only a mother could show.

“Buffy, I really don’t think you are thinking straight.” Dawn sais as everyone in the room turned and looked at her.

"Let me explain. Natasha adores Christina, she simply does not like anyone except Christina. Well, maybe Mars. I think we are looking for a Cemetery local and large enough for Christina to get in some kills.” Dawn explained to the group, as Giles nodded in approval.

Buffy seemed to be calming down as Willow types searched parameters into her computer terminal.

“First risers are easy, right? She will be o.k. Right?” Buffy said to no one in particular.

“Buff, Christina will be fine; plus, take my word for it, Natasha can handle herself,” Faith said rubbing her jaw. “Oh, and they have that big ass vampire eating cat with them, they’re a hell of a lot better than I was when I did my first night mission,” Faith stated.

“Two local cemeteries, one small and one large, both within three miles from here,” Willow said.

Buffy paused, and glanced at Dawn.

“Going with the Dawn theory, we go with the smaller one, Will.”

“That’s Evergreen Westlake Cemetery its just north of here, off of Center ridge Road, half mile north of Crocker Rd.”
Faith bolted out of the room with Bravo Team close behind her.

“Faith, you don’t have to…”

“Buffy, my niece and sister are out there, no one could stop me! Even if they can’t stand me, it’s five by five, girlfriend.” Faith was gone with a nod.

**************

“Hey, I can see your face, it’s working! I kinda can see in the dark, you are so cool!” Christina said, and then she took point; they traveled northeast through the woods around the Sanctuary.

Christina was in front with Mars behind and slightly to the right, while Natasha stayed behind and slightly left. Christina was scanning her immediate front with her ANPVS-14’s modified for thermal gradients. It was essentially a Starlight scope that used the surrounding ambient, light like from stars or moon, and magnified it, showing everything in a greenish hue. It was modified by the Sgt. Maj. to show infrared with a digital thermal readout, anything that emitted heat showed light, the hotter the whiter, car engine blocks, people showed white on a red screen. Vampires showed dark or cold with a temperature readout of outside temperature, so in a room of humans everyone would read ninety-eight plus and a vampire would read sixty-five or seventy degrees.

Christina threw her arm back and drew it forward, the signal for follow me, she hopped a low fence and dropped behind a small stone wall. They were at the edge of the forest; it spilled out into a small neighborhood on the way to the cemetery. That morning Sergeant Major Douglas had given Natasha six of his masterpieces, six Dogwood stakes, handcraft and embedded with solid silver, the wood from trees that weren’t allowed to drink anything but Holy water and eat only Miracle grow. Natasha took masking tape and taped one on Christina’s back, between her shoulder blades, one to the small of her back, and one to her right leg. Christina carried a compound Bow with silver and dogwood bolts, Natasha carried the same and Mars carried the weapons nature gave him.

Christina felt juiced, it was strange to her, she was freaking out scared, but yet she was willing to go out and seek the things that scared her, and unwilling to let anything happen to the two friends behind her. She knew that by Arthur’s rules and with Natasha as her Watcher, she was in charge of this mission.

“Twelve year old with a mission, leading a deadly team of Vampire Slayers; how frekin cool is that. Bobby Berkley, in my six grade class, would have a shit if he could se…remain focused?” Christina thought to herself gripping the compound bow.

Christina held her hand up, signaling halt, she turned to Natasha and ran her fingertips across her throat and pointed to Center ridge road, marking it as a danger area. She called Mars over to her and pointed across the road, he crossed and checked out the other side. Christina and Natasha crossed together after Mars made it back and licked her hand, a signal they came to know as all clear.

Natasha took a knee and pulled out a red lens flashlight, which emits a light that doesn’t give away their position like a regular flashlight. She pulled out a map of the cemetery that she had downloaded in the library.

“Alright, we are here, we jump this stone wall and we are at this corner of the cemetery, I want you to sweep the west side and stop when you get to this mausoleum.”

Christina nodded her head and motioned for Mars to clear the other side of the stone wall as Natasha put away the map. The three jumped over the wall and Mars cleared the other side. Christina started her sweep, the crossbow moved wherever her eyes moved, she switched to thermal, and saw movement down a small glade, in a clearing.

Christina moved in the shadow of the stone wall, to within twenty meters of the new riser. She turned to Natasha and placed two fingers along her throat to signal vampire. Natasha switched to thermal and confirmed, pulled Mars up close, and gave the thumbs up for Christina to take him out. She wasn’t allowed to fight them yet, only with the crossbow, she figured that even though she already had two kills both with stakes. Natasha just wanted to be careful. Natasha explained to her that she wanted her fighting skills to progress from distance weapons to up close and personal. Mars tried to pull away sensing the danger, and as Natasha gently smacked him on top of the head, he growled, but she simply shook her head no. Christina quickly left her position and rounded the corner in full view of the new riser.

The vamp looked up while brushing off the dirt and clods of grass. He started to laugh.

“You have got to be kidding me, how old are you?”
“Oh, I’m twelve, my names Christina, Christina the Vampire Slayer.”

“Well, that’s great! My name’s Jeff, Jeff the financial consultant, but I’m not a Vampire.”

“Oh, yes you are!”

“I am not!”

“Are too, forehead boy!”

The new riser reached up and touched first his protruding forehead, then his newly formed fangs. “Hey, what do ya know, I am a Vampire.”

“I told you.”

“So ya did, are we going to fight now?”

“I’m not allowed.”

“Well, that sucks!”

“I can kill you with this, but it doesn’t seem right, why don’t you try and bite me, then I can kill you.”

“It doesn’t work like that, Christina, at least I don’t think it works like that.”
“
It doesn’t work like what?”

“Well, I think I have to be attracted to you, first.”

“You’re not attracted to me, why?”

“Well, maybe because…you’re only twelve years old! Even when I was alive I wasn’t attracted to a twelve year old, what do you think I’m weird or something?”

**********

“I don’t have a problem, biting a twelve year old, especially a Slayer.”

Ten of the Devil’s Seraphim stepped out from behind a large mausoleum. They carried axes, clubs, knives, and chains. Christina took a step back as Natasha and Mars ran out and stood beside her; Mars rubbed up against her leg and growled. The leader, Fang, wearing a leather jacket embroidered on the back, stepped forward.

“You Jeffrey, beat it! These girls are ours! This is what we are going to do, you girls kill the cat, drop your weapons, put on these dog collars, and we will let you live, sound good?”

“I wonder if I could play, or am I too old?” Buffy asked as she stepped out from behind a large statue carrying the Flame.

“Hi, Mommy,” Christina said with a large smile.

“Hi baby, hi Natasha,” Buffy said to the girls as she stood in front.

“Oh, family time, look boys, mommy wants to play too.” Fang said.

“Don’t forget the Aunt. See Buff, they always forget the Aunt.” Faith said as she stepped out from the other side carrying a katana.

“I believe that’s Aunts, Sisters and a whole lot of pissed off Uncles,” Dawn said as she walked out of the shadows with the rest of the Slayers, The Continuum, and the Scoobs all loaded for bear.

“I don’t suppose I can talk you two into heading home and letting us handle this?” Buffy asked.

“These are the bastards that beat me close to death and almost killed my friend, what do you think.” Natasha told the senior slayer.

“Yeah, mom it’s kinda personal.”

“Well, can mom play too?”

“This…this would be fine,” Natasha answered.

“Sure!” Christina said.

“Alpha, Bravo assault, Charlie support by fire, move,” Buffy commanded.

The Devil’s Seraphim stepped back and spread out as Faith, Buffy, and Kennedy took charge of their fire teams. Natasha grabbed Mars firmly by the scruff of the neck while turning towards Christina,
“Fire your crossbow, drop it and follow me in,” Natasha yelled.

Buffy held the flame high, and waited for Kennedy to fire her first volley. She turned to Bravo Team,

“Remember, these guys like to hurt little girls! Faith, follow me in and flank left.”

“Roger that, big sis.”

Natasha held firmly to Mars, Christina slightly behind and on her left. Kennedy threw her arm down signaling Charlie Team to fire. A hale of flaming bolts and arrows shot into the sky dropping in a deadly arc dusting two of the Devil’s Seraphim. Natasha waited for Charlie to reload, and fire their second volley as she glanced over towards Alpha and Bravo Teams in position and waiting on Kennedy.

Kennedy’s team fired a second volley as they dropped their crossbows and compound bows and drew their Katana’s. Natasha let Mars go, as she and Christina ran under a hail of flaming death. Buffy saw them move, and brought the flame down, signaling the assault to begin. Faith’s team broke and flanked the Devil’s Seraphim from the left side as Alpha led by Buffy attacked straight on. Kennedy led Charlie team, forward and attacked the right flank.

Natasha ran as fast as she could to try and keep up with Mars, Christina fast on their heels. Mars ducked under a swinging chain and clamped onto Fang’s throat, sinking his canines deep; he twisted his head until the vamp dusted. Mars’ head shot up looking for Christina.

Natasha, with a stake in each hand, leapt into the air at full speed. Her lead leg pointing at her target as she felt her body descend, Natasha twisted in mid flight slamming her rear leg under the chin of a vamp as he looked up. He did a reverse somersault landing on his stomach as she buried her lead stake between his shoulder blades, dusting him as she seeked another target.

Christina slid between the legs of an unsuspecting vamp, jamming her stake up between his legs, as he dropped to his knees in sheer agony, she came up behind him, and backhand thrust her stake into his chest, dusting her third vamp. Mars stood beside her, ripping out the throat out of any vamp that approached his charge, Christina.

Far up in a tree, observing the battle, there was a shadow, but not the only one; from the ground, in a clump of brush, watched three likens.


Chapter 38: Delta Commander


“Hello, Col. Rozhkov…this is Buffy Summers.”

“Aha... yes, Miss. Summers, I have been waiting for your call…how are you today?”

“Sir, I am calling about your daughter…I don’t understand, we…”

“Let me help you…you offered to activate her…she refused. You offered the command of her own team; again, she refused…how am I doing?”

“A little too good Sir.”

“Buffy… Miss Summers, there is a little one; your daughter is there…yes?”

“Yes, she is… they have become good friends.”

“I would say they became much more than that!” Col. Rozhkov replied. “Tonight, before the girls sit down to eat their evening meal, ask to see if they cleaned their hands.”

“Back to the not understanding, Colonel Rozhkov.”

“Miss Summers, there is an ancient Romanian Sisterhood Blood Rite. It goes like this: ‘I vow to be your friend, till the end of time, whatever we do we do together. If we should part and one of us dies, the other will make sure her friend’s body gets home to her family.’ If Natasha gave Christina the blood rite, they are now sisters. Since they are both chosen Vampire Slayers, if one is allowed to be what she is and the other is not, I would say that your problems have just begun,” The Colonel explained.

“So, what you are telling me is if I activate Natasha, I have to activate my own daughter, against my wishes. All of this dictated by a thirteen year old little girl. Sir, we have a term here, it’s called being played!”

“Miss Summers, the fact that you just called my daughter a little girl, tells me that you have no idea who my daughter is. Let me ask you this: did she try to take out your second in command?”

“Yes, she did!”

“My daughter has never had friends, except for the men of my unit. She has relentlessly trained since the age of five. The Elders recognized that she was a potential since the day you were called. For her to take the blood oath with Christina, means there must be something very special about your daughter. Being activated or promoted to team leader, Miss. Summers… I am the team leader of our team; believe me when I say it is the only thing she has ever wanted. Send her home, we would be ecstatic to have our Natasha back, but I think you should get to know her first. If you resolve this issue, I would like to come and see the school, and meet you of course. She has had a picture of you in her room since you killed the Master.”

“Thank you Col. Rozhkov, you and your team are always welcome here, I will let you know my decision. I have some things to think about. Thank you, goodbye.”

“Good luck, Miss Summers,” Col. Rozhkov hung the phone up, and touched the framed picture of Natasha that sat on his desk.

***

“I think we are looking at this the wrong way, think about it. Natasha was raised as a potential Slayer since the age of five. She was sent to North Korea every summer to train with the North Korean Olympic Karate Team,” The Sgt. Maj. said taking a drink of water. “Her Father, Col. Victor Rozhkov has always been her Watcher, and she no longer has that. Because of her age she was not assigned a Watcher when she arrived here, we were not sure she should be active. It was our mistake. The only one she still shows any respect to is, according to her Father, her Idol Buffy, that’s you. He tells me that she has pictures of you all over her room, she has studied your career, from the very beginning.”

“That’s why she hates me, Buffy. We were enemies once, damn, aren’t we a bunch of window lickers,” Faith said as everyone turned towards her with a look of confusion. “What, window licker, you know, ride the short bus…whatever.”

“I don’t want to be anyone’s Idol; I just want to be me…Buffy.”

“Like it or not, in my opinion, and please don’t take this the wrong way, I think you should not only be Natasha’s Watcher, but you should also consider being Christina’s Watcher, and this is the part you are not going to want to hear. I think you should reconsider your position on Christina and Natasha. Place them both on active status with Mars and Naiya, as part of the team, and with you being her Watcher, you can control her training and more importantly, you would control what missions she is allowed to go on with her two best friends.” The Sgt. Maj. stated. “At the very least, they wouldn’t be planning their own missions, and at a much greater risk.”

Buffy thought about what had been said, “I just don’t know if Natasha would be reckless or not; we still don’t know an awful lot about her, but we have totally underestimated her because of her age."

"If the information you received from Col. Rozhkov is correct, then Natasha has been training to be a Slayer since I was called. I agree…you’re right Sgt. Maj. I don’t like it, but it is the right thing to do. Dawn, would you mind helping me re-organize the squad?” Buffy asked.

“Sure, Buffy, thanks for asking.”

“Good, I want four teams, each with a Watcher attached. Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta Team lead by Natasha. Dawn, form the squad outside on the training field, I’ll be right back,” Buffy ran upstairs and knocked on Christina’s door.

“Go away, we’re busy.” Christina said from the other side of the door.

Buffy opened the door just as Christina and Natasha were preparing to exit out the window followed by Mars, who got up and greeted Buffy. She stopped and scratched him behind his ear.

“What are you all doing? Preparing a mission, Natasha?” Buffy asked, hands on hips.

“I have already informed you, I do not work for you,” Natasha answered defiantly.

“That’s funny, everyone is waiting to meet my new Delta Team commander, but if you don’t want…”

“Wait,” Natasha said as she glanced over at her best friend who was beaming. She smiled back and started to head out the door.

“We have been talking, Mom… Natasha shouldn’t be held back because of me, and I don’t want to fight with you anymore, I love you, so I’ve decided to wait,” Christina said.

“Excuse me, baby.”

“Wait just a minute, Troop…aren’t you forgetting something?”

Natasha stopped in her tracks and looked at Buffy.

“You’re forgetting your team. Naiya and Kimberly are waiting for you, but are you leaving Christina and Mars up here to play while we have work to do?”

Christina jumped up, “Are you for real? Active really, Active?”

“Yes, it’s been decided that both of you will become active, but be careful what you wish, for you haven’t met your Watcher yet and I hear she’s a real Bitch!” Buffy said casting a sideways glance to the new team leader who was looking a little embarrassed.

“You know Mom, you should probably watch your language, it’s not very lady like.”

“Get out there, slayer, before I change my mind,” Buffy said as she smacked Christina gently on the butt.

***

Natasha made it to the training field at a full run; Buffy, Christina, and Mars right behind her. She stopped, as everyone was standing in formation Faith out front. Natasha walked up to Faith and stood directly in front of her. Faith held up her Katana, drove it into the ground and started clapping, as did the entire squad. A feeling of pride swept over Natasha.

“Hey, look, I’m not so good at the whole sorry thing, but I did underestimate you, and you are a chosen slayer, just like me. I’m just saying, we cool!”

“Warriors do not have to say they’re sorry, Faith. You proved that we belong here when you mounted that rescue mission to bring back Christina and me. Thank you, yes, we are very much...cool.”

The two warriors for light slapped five as Natasha yelled out,

“Delta team, get over here, start stretching out, we are late for training! Christina, bring Mars down, we are working with him today. Naiya and Kimberly, get over here now, we have a lot of work,” Natasha smiled at Faith.

The Sgt. Maj. stood on a hill overlooking the entire scene; he wore his gray Gargoyle sunglasses, patrol cap, and his massive arms folded in front of his Death from Above black Tee shirt. He glanced at Buffy as she looked up and gave her a very discrete thumbs-up.

Delta Tm lead by Natasha trained hard well into the night working on formations, hand & arm signals, and entry techniques. They were covered in sweat, Natasha pushed hard but they were all smiling including Buffy.

"Girls...your dinner is being kept for you in the cafeteria if your interested," Marianna yelled down to the training field as Buffy waved in acknowledgement.

Buffy let Natasha train them for an additional hour on hand to hand techniques and then pulled her aside, "Natasha, stretch them out and cool them down then go ahead and release Delta to the lunchroom and showers. Hey, you did a great job, today."

Natasha beamed a radiant smile up at her, "Thank you, Buffy."


"Your welcome, I'll see you inside...I think that I'm going to take a shower for a week."

Natasha gave some final instructions to Delta Team and her and Christina walked gingerly up the stone steps that led to the patio.

"So, will you spend the night in my room for a movie fest?"

"Okay, what do you have?" Natasha asked.

"I talked Xander into loaning me Blade II...don't tell my Mom she thinks it's too violent."

The girls looked at each other and started laughing as they headed at a run into the cafeteria.

***



Chapter 38: Not Thee Only Freak

The Sun shined brightly through the half covered window on the eastern wall of the Santuary. A very fine dust danced in the beam gently warming Christina’s cheek. She glanced over at the giant fur ball that lay between her and Natasha. Mar’s lip and paw twitched frantically in deep sleep; chasing some prey either man, beast, or demon. She just smiled as she cuddled deeper into his heaving chest not wanting to leave. She leaned up hearing the resonant sound of Buffy’s hard shoes walking down the abandoned hallway stopping directly in front of her door.

“Hey, sleepy head…are you decent?”

“Yeah, come on in Mom,” Christina said at the finished part of a cat like stretch sitting up in her bed.

Natasha’s eyes opened up as Mar’s yanked off the cover with his excitement to greet Buffy.

Buffy kneeled down and caught Mars in a full leap off of the oak frame of the queen size bed.

“Arthur Van Helsing surely did his homework when preparing the Sanctuary for the Slayers, light weight furniture would never make it in a house full of growing Vampire Slayers”, Buffy thought.

“Hey, big guy…go see Mariana…I’m sure she has a steak for you,” Buffy said giving Mars a big hug and pushing him out into the hallway.

“Good morning girls, Natasha assemble Delta after morning training, Giles would like to fill you in, I think were going on a trip to Seattle…some girls are missing”

The two young girls looked at each other at the same time with a look like Christmas was early and said in unison, “Mission!”

Natasha leaned up wiping the sleep away, “Buffy…why Delta team… if I may ask?”

“Of course, you can ask Natasha…Delta is the only team not currently enrolled in school or to be more accurate home schooled. Oh, Giles and Willow will have a list of books to bring with us for your homework. The girl’s smiles quickly faded as Buffy closed the door and walked down the hallway heading for the cafeteria.

***

After morning physical training, showers, and breakfast Faith took the rest of the squad down to help Xander and his construction crew build a kill house. The Sergeant Major felt that it was necessary to have a house like structure built to train team entry and clearing of commercial structures.

Delta team led in by Natasha minus Mars who was sent to keep Dr. Kidare company; sauntered into the conference room where the Van Helsing Continuum including Asano sat around d the large oak table.

Mr. Giles stood up and motioned everyone to take their seats, “Thank you, Natasha.”


“Good morning, all…I hope that you slept well the reason that you have been assembled here today is for a briefing on an increasing number of missing person cases in the city of Seattle. The reason that Delta team is being picked for this particular task is because of your status as home schooled students, your stature, and the fact that you will be accompanied by this organization’s most experienced Slayer.”

Christina raised her hand high into the air, “What’s a stature?”

“Oh, dear…I’m terribly sorry…it means your size; because, of the fact that most of the girls were found in and around the city’s existing sewer system.”

“Natasha’s hand shot up, “Mr. Giles…this would not have anything to do with the Green River Killer would it?”

“Very sharp…very sharp indeed, Natasha…no that is what we were thinking at the onset; however, looking further into the Method of Operandi of the Green River Killer. It seems that all of these victims were…errr unblemished.”

“Huh,” Christina said looking confused as Natasha turned her head towards her friend.

“He means that they were virgins.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, thank you Natasha…the Green River Killer preyed on Ladies of the Night. Please, if I may ask you to hold all questions until the last we will endeavor to answer all of your inquires.”








“Please…leave me here.” Kaitlen looked up tears running down her face mixed with sewer sludge.

Buffy looked down in confusion, “Why?”

Kaitlen quickly looked down at herself covered in sludge and looked up, “Because, I am a freak.”

Buffy just smiled down at the young girl reaching out a hand.

“What…what are you smiling at?”

“Well, as a friend of mine once said, “Not thee only freak” Buffy replied in her best Jamaican accent.

Natasha and Christina each grabbed one of Buffy’s legs and lowered her down deeper into the sewers cistern saying in unison, “Not by a long shot.”

Christina and Natasha looked at each other with the knowledge that this young girl will soon find out that she is not alone anymore as Kim and Naiya ran up beside them.