ASTA Episode 1.03 "Slayer, The"

[shred]

TEASER

~SOMEWHERE IN HADES VALLEY~
~church~

He strolled down the aisle, hands behind his back, towards the front of the sanctuary. Around him, candles flickered against the draft that managed to find its way into the church, casting moving shadows on the walls. He had a thoughtful expression on his sharp, angular face as he neared the alter.

MAN: I always wondered why vampires were scared of this place. What’s there to be afraid of? It’s just building.

The sound of shoes scuffing against the floor of the church echoed around the room. He glanced over his shoulder, acknowledging the person behind him.

MAN: Tell me Marcus. Why are you afraid of this place?

Marcus cast his eyes on the ground as he spoke.

MARCUS: I don’t know, Matthias. We are afraid because we were told to be afraid?

Matthias laughed, his voice reverberating around the empty sanctuary.

MATTHIAS: You’re a funny man, Marcus – and honest too. You are all afraid because you were told to be afraid. So what if I told you that you shouldn’t be afraid? That this church is nothing but bricks and stones.

MARCUS: Then we won’t be, Matthias. We won’t be afraid anymore.

MATTHIAS: It’s that simple isn’t it? How I wish everything else would be that simple. A word from someone and things would happen, things would change. But, unfortunately, the world doesn’t work that way. Instead, it’s very much the opposite. What we ask, what we want, we won’t get. What we don’t want, we get. I certainly didn’t ask for this but look at what’s happening.

MARCUS: I’m sorry Matthias. I wish I could bring good news…

MATTHIAS: But?

MARCUS: But I’m afraid…we lost more of our men.

Matthias gazed up at the large, wooden cross that hung against the wall. He took a candle from a nearby candle stand and held it before him.

MATTHIAS: And the Stone?

MARCUS: We still haven’t found it yet. But we are looking. It won’t be long now.

MATTHIAS: I’m sure it won’t. But that was what you told me two weeks ago, Marcus, and I’m getting impatient.

MARCUS: I know, sir, but…

MATTHIAS: (coldly) Find me that stone, Marcus.

MARCUS: I will, Matthias, you have my word. But we need more information on its whereabouts. What we have now isn’t enough.

MATTHIAS: I’ll leave that to you. You find more information and you find me the stone. That’s all you need to do and nothing else. It’s that simple.

MARCUS: Yes, Matthias. Your word is our command.

MATTHIAS: Good. Don’t fail me, Marcus. I’m not a fan of failure.

MARCUS: Of course. And sir? What about the humans? They are the ones that took out our men. If they continue like this, I’m afraid that our numbers will dwindle drastically.

MATTHIAS: Then make sure they don’t get near us. They are an obstacle and we must eliminate all obstacles. Do what you must to make them stay out of our way. You have my command to do so.

MARCUS: Of course. We’ll do just that.

MATTHIAS: Good. Now, leave. I need my quiet time with the Lord.

He heard footsteps fading away and then there was silence. Matthias looked that the cross and then to the candle in his hand. With one fluid motion, he threw the candle against the cross. The candle bounced again the wood and almost instantly, the cross went up in flames.

MATTHIAS: (smiled) Amen.

CUT TO BLACK

OPENING CREDITS ROLL

THEME SONG “Club Foot” by Kasabian

Starring:
Jewel Staite as Asta Dawson
Nicholas Brendon as Xander Harris
Tom Lenk as Andrew Wells
Cillian Murphy as Oliver Pike
Ashley Scott as Tabitha Pike

Guest-starring:
Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers
Tyron Leitso as David Boone
Michael Weatherly as Matthias


Created by Irene Issac with Beck Schwarz
Based on the hit television show “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”

END OF CREDITS

DISCLAIMER: ASTA is created by Irene (shred) and Beck (Radient Evil). All original characters belong to us and us alone. All the other characters and the slayverse, however, belong to Joss Whedon and we are just borrowing them. If you want to use this series or any of the original characters, ask and you shall receive. This series is set during the 5th season of ANGEL.

Promo

[shred]

ACT 1

~HADES VALLEY~
~motel~
~night~

Xander inserted the key into the door of room 144 and unlocked it. He twisted the door knob, pushed it open and stepped into the room. The room was small and didn’t look like it could house four people.

There were two twin single beds at one end that nearly took up most of the space while a small television set and a wooden dresser took up the rest of the space at the other end. A foldable bed was cramped into whatever space that was available. Right across from the front door was the bathroom and next to it was a built-in closet.

Xander eyed the room wearily.

XANDER: We are only going to stay here for awhile.

ASTA: You sound convincing.

Andrew went past Xander and dashed for the bed that was the nearest to the bathroom.

ANDREW: This is mine!

Xander, Asta and Buffy stepped into the room and set their luggage down.

XANDER: Guess I’m taking the floor then.

BUFFY: (exasperatedly) I told the guy to get two foldable beds.

Asta looked around the room and furrowed her brow.

ASTA: I don’t think there’s space for another bed. I don’t think there’s space to sleep on the floor either.

XANDER: That’s alright, ladies. I can be manly for the time being and rough it out on the floor. And look! There is space on the floor – right there under the foldable bed.

BUFFY: We’ll rotate.

ASTA: (worriedly) Rotate?

BUFFY: Yeah, rotate – between Xander and Andrew.

Xander shot his best friend a look.

XANDER: Thank you, Buffy.

Andrew went to the bathroom and opened the door. He shut it and went to open the closet door.

ANDREW: Everything here is cramped. The toilet, the closet. How long are we going to stay here again?

BUFFY: Not long. Maybe two, three days.

ANDREW: (scowled) And then what? We’ll move into our mansion?

BUFFY: Don’t get snippy with me, geek boy. We’ll cross the bridge when we get there. Right now, we’ll have to make do with what we have.

Xander clapped his hands together and looked at the three of them.

XANDER: So in the meantime, why don’t we unpack and get as comfortable as possible?

Asta gingerly sat on the foldable bed.

ASTA: Well, we are kind of settled in. There isn’t much to unpack and I doubt that closet is able to hold all our clothes. I think we need to do something else. Like maybe get out of this room. I think I’m getting a little claustrophobic.

Xander leaned against the dresser and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

XANDER: I guess we could take a tour of the town. Check out the evil hot spots…

BUFFY: And the Hellmouth.

XANDER: …and the Hellmouth.

BUFFY: Or maybe we can do a bit of patrol. We can check out the cemeteries that are here at the same time. Cemeteries are slayer’s best friends, Asta needs to get acquainted.

ASTA: (grimly) Yay me. But I’m up for it. It sure beats staying in this dive anyway.

ANDREW: Can I stay here? I’m really beat from that long flight here.

Buffy went over to Andrew, grabbed the sleeve of his t-shirt and started tugging him towards the front door.

BUFFY: You’re a Watcher for goodness sake. You shouldn’t be sleeping while your Slayer is out risking her life.

ANDREW: But isn’t that what Giles did when he was watching over you?

BUFFY: (blinked) That was different. He was researching.

ANDREW: I’ve read those books, Buffy. They were sleep-inducing.

Buffy looked over her shoulder as she lead Andrew out of the door.

BUFFY: We’ll be outside.

The front door slammed shut behind them. A moment later, Xander and Asta heard Andrew yelping in pain.

Xander shook his head in amusement and laughed softly.

XANDER: I still cannot believe he’s your Watcher.

ASTA: Trust me, I’ve been thinking that everyday.

He pushed himself off the dresser and jerked his thumb towards the front door.

XANDER: We should catch up with them. I’ve seen Buffy mad before and Andrew is not safe at the moment.

ASTA: If a Watcher dies, is another one called to take over the dead Watcher’s place?

XANDER: (shrugged) I guess the Council will assign another Watcher.

ASTA: (grinned) Let’s wait a little longer then.

#############################################
~BAR~

When Oliver stepped into the new bar called Bar None, he couldn’t help but notice the huge crowd and the waitresses and bartenders that were rushing from one end of the place to the other, trying to keep up with orders.

The place was a combination of a bar and a restaurant attracting all kinds of people. There were the usual tired looking business men and scruffy looking unemployed men and a handful of beautiful ladies at the bar while teenagers on dates and families were at the booths eating a good meal.

There was a small dance floor at the far corner of the restaurant and a few teenagers were dancing to the music that was coming out from a jukebox next to the dance floor. Most of the waitresses were young women while the single bartender mending a bar was a large, burly looking man who looked like he once worked as a bouncer.

Oliver took a deep breath and moved away from the entrance of the bar. He weaved around the crowd of people that were standing around and headed towards the bar. He squeezed between a middle aged man who looked like he was just got beaten up and a young lady who was smiling shamelessly at the bartender.

The burly guy finished up an order at the end of the bar counter before coming towards Oliver with his eyebrows raised expectantly.

BARTENDER: What will it be, man?

OLIVER: I’m looking for David, David Boone. Is he around?

BARTENDER: He should be at the back in his office. Why?

OLIVER: I’m Oliver. David told me to come in if I was interested in a job.

BARTENDER: A job huh? I’ll go and tell him you’re here. You want a drink while you wait?

OLIVER: No, thanks, I’m fine.

BARTENDER: I don’t think you understood me, man. This place is packed with customers and I spent five minutes talking to some guy without getting any orders. And the interesting thing is, he asked me to do something for him. Now, do you think I should do what he asked? Or should I go about and get some business done.

The young lady and the man on either side of Oliver looked at him, annoyed.

OLIVER: A bottle of beer would be fine for me.

BARTENDER: (smugly) Coming right up.

The bartender moved away to get his drink. Oliver felt something cold touch his bare arm and he looked over to his right. The woman beside him flashed him a sultry smile. She was wearing a red dress that hugged her figure in all the right places and had a plunging neckline. She leaned forward a little, giving Oliver a bird’s eye view of her cleavage.

WOMAN: Hey, sweetie. Are you here all alone?

Oliver cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably.

OLIVER: Erm…yeah.

WOMAN: Are you planning on leaving alone? Cause if you are, I would probably have to change your plans.

OLIVER: Don’t you feel cold?

The woman blinked at the sudden change in subject. At the corner of his eye, Oliver caught a glimpse of the bartender setting a tall glass of beer in front of him.

WOMAN: What?

OLIVER: You’re wearing a dress that is hardly covering your body and your hands feels really cold but you’re not shivering at all. So…are you cold?

The woman smiled and leaned into him.

WOMAN: Would you like to warm me up if I say yes?

Before Oliver could answer, a shadow fell over the two of them. He looked over his shoulder and saw a large, muscled man, with a cowboy hat on his head, standing behind them.

COWBOY: Come on, Beatrice. We got to leave.

WOMAN/BEATRICE: (pouted) But I was just getting started.

Cowboy grabbed Beatrice’s arm and pulled her away from Oliver.

COWBOY: We got to go. Now!

The cowboy tipped his hat towards Oliver’s direction and the two of them left the bar. Oliver watched the couple as they made their way through the crowd and headed towards the back door of Bar None. Oliver finished up his beer, slapped a few bucks down on the counter and followed the two out of the bar.

When Oliver stepped into the back alley, he caught sight of Beatrice and her cowboy boyfriend hurrying out of the alley. He reached behind and pulled out a stake which was tucked into his waistband and started jogging after them.

OLIVER: Hey!

Beatrice craned her head and waved when she spotted him running after her.

BEATRICE: Hey stud!

The two of them disappeared around the corner as soon as the words come out from her mouth. Oliver poured on more speed, breaking into a sprint. When he turned around the corner, a hand came sticking out in front of him and slammed into his face. Oliver heard his nose crack upon impact and he fell to the gravel hard.

Cowboy placed his feet on Oliver’s chest, pinning him to the ground.

COWBOY: I told you he was bad news, Beatrice, but you never listen to me.

Beatrice came up to her boyfriend’s side and looked sadly at Oliver. She, as well as her boyfriend, had her vampire face on.

BEATRICE: But he’s so cute, Hank. Can I play with him first before we rip his throat out?

COWBOY/HANK: I don’t know. His sister might turn up and dust our asses.

Hank pressed the sharp heel of his boot deeper into Oliver’s chest, nearly breaking a rip.

HANK: I don’t understand why he and his sister like playing the role of the slayer. Don’t they know it’s dangerous to play heroes?

BEATRICE: Maybe they are playing heroes because we don’t have a slayer here. You know, they are like a substitute or something.

HANK: If that’s the case, I don’t see why we can’t kill him.

BEATRICE: Can I play with him first? Please.

HANK: Why don’t we just kill him and find someone else to play with? I don’t want to take any chances with him. We can’t underestimate this boy. He might be human and isn’t a slayer but he sure fights like one and has killed many of us.

BEATRICE: Alright. I guess it wouldn’t hurt if we wet our appetite first.

Hank grinned, licked his lips and leaned down to grab Oliver.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ASTA: Hades Valley hasn’t changed a lot since I left. It’s still depressing. Maybe slightly more.

XANDER: Well, I like this town - certainly much better than Sunnydale.

ANDREW: I don’t know. Sunnydale had a certain charm to it that this town doesn’t.

BUFFY: (scoffed) Sunnydale had no charm. Unless you count the constant demon and vampire attacks a charm.

ASTA: Well, Hades Valley has that similar demon and vampire attacks. So I don’t think it’s much different from Sunnydale.

BUFFY: But Hades Valley has two Starbucks. There’s one difference there already.

Asta, Xander, Andrew and Buffy were walking down the main street of Hades Valley, taking in the sights of the town they were in. They had passed by a number of places, including two cemeteries, an international high school and several shops.

They were now walking past a newly opened bar called Bar None and heading towards their third cemetery.

ASTA: This bar is new.

BUFFY: Looks cool. Wanna go in and check it out? We could grab a few drinks and sit for awhile as we need to stop walking for a few minutes. It seems like we’ve been walking forever.

Xander suddenly grabbed Buffy’s hand and pointed to something down the street. A few meters away from them were a couple towering over a young man.

XANDER: My experience tells me that that does not look good.

ANDREW: Cool! Our first vampire spotting!

BUFFY: Guess we should call our new Slayer to work. (to Asta) What do you say?

ASTA: I say, huh?

BUFFY: Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You’re the slayer. Just do what comes naturally to you and you’ll be fine.

ANDREW: And don’t forget our basic training. You have to put that into use as well.

XANDER: And a stake! Do you have a stake with you? You cannot fight a vampire without a stake, unless you have an axe to chop their heads off or a torch to set them on fire.

ASTA: I…

BUFFY: Just focus on your enemy and fight with everything you got. Remember that no matter what happens, you have to be in control.

ASTA: Erm…ok. What are you guys going to do?

XANDER: We’ll stand here and watch.

Asta’s eyes widen in surprise.

ASTA: But…

XANDER: Don’t worry. We’ll help you out when you get into trouble.

ASTA: If, right? You mean if I get into trouble.

Buffy gave her a nudge forward with a big smile on her face.

BUFFY: Good luck!

ANDREW: Oh! And don’t forget this!

Andrew pressed a stake into Asta’s hand and patted on her shoulder.

ANDREW: Do me proud, Frodo. Do me proud.

With the stake gripped tightly in her hand, Asta made her way slowly towards the couple and the young man on the ground. A huge, well built man dressed as a cowboy, leaned down and grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and yanked him to his feet. Without warning, the man head butted the cowboy and pushed him away. He scrambled to his feet and dropped into a fight stance.

The girl that was with the cowboy – that looked more like a hooker than a vampire – started screaming for the cowboy vampire to stand up.

ASTA: This might go easier than I expected.

She broke into a run and when she got near the female vampire, she leapt at it and tackled her to the ground.

FEMALE VAMP: Hank! The sister is here!

Asta looked at them vampire, puzzled, as she straddled the vampire.

ASTA: Sister?

The vampire underneath her cocked her head and stared intently at Asta.

FEMALE VAMP: You don’t look like him though. Are you his sister?

ASTA: Who’s he?

A large hand fell on Asta’s shoulder and pulled her off the female vampire. The cowboy vampire grinned at Asta, baring his sharp teeth as he pulled her towards him.

HANK: This isn’t the sister.

He sniffed and then frowned.

HANK: You’re…different.

ASTA: I’m a slayer.

Hank’s distorted face took on a surprise expression.

HANK: A slayer? We don’t have a slayer here.

ASTA: Well, you do now.

She pushed off his hand from her shoulder, slugged him across his face and then plunged him with her stake. Without pausing for a moment to celebrate her first vampire dusting, she turned around and faced the female vampire who was slowly getting up to her feet. She looked teary-eyed at the ground behind Asta where her boyfriend’s ashes must have fallen.

FEMALE VAMP: You killed Hank.

ASTA: Well, he did try to kill me and that man. It was self defense.

FEMALE VAMP: But –

Asta didn’t give her a chance to finish her sentence as she staked the vampire. She grinned widely as she watched the ashes fall to the ground.

ASTA: I did it!

Footsteps pounded behind her and Asta spotted Andrew, Buffy and Xander jogging up to her.

XANDER: You alright?

ASTA: I staked my first vamp. Well, vamps!

Andrew sniffed as he swiped his hand across his face, blinking hard.

ANDREW: I knew you would do me proud.

BUFFY: (grinned) Well, now you can officially call yourself a vampire slayer.

Xander went up to Asta, draped an arm across her shoulder and pulled her into a hug.

XANDER: We should celebrate.

VOICE: (o.s) Well, well, well. Look at this!

The four of them looked up, finally noticing that the young man who the vampires were trying to kill was still with them. Blood was dripping from his nose and he was cradling his chest. He smiled at Buffy and shook his head in bewilderment.

MAN: If it isn’t Buffy Summers.

Buffy’s jaw dropped, her eyes growing wide and nearly popping out of her head.

BUFFY: Pike?

[shred]

ACT 2

BUFFY: It’s you!

OLIVER/PIKE: It’s me.

BUFFY: What are you doing here?

PIKE: And I’ll ask you the same thing. Last I saw you, you were fighting off vampires in our high school gym and now you have someone else doing it for you?

BUFFY: It’s not like that. It’s a long story.

PIKE: And I’m interested to hear all about it. (smiled) It’s great to see you again…though this isn’t how I wished for us to meet.

BUFFY: But we’ll take whatever you get, right?

PIKE: Right.

Silence descended upon the two of them as Buffy and Pike smiled at each other. Asta, Xander and Andrew looked on.

XANDER: So! This reunion is nice and all but I just have to ask. What’s going on?

Buffy shot him an apologetic smile.

BUFFY: Sorry. Pike, these are my friends, Xander, Asta and Andrew. Guys, this is Pike.

XANDER: Pike? As in before-Sunnydale-before-Angel-boyfriend Pike? The one from Hemery?

BUFFY: The one and only.

PIKE: (frowned) Angel?

Xander extended his hand and Pike shook it.

XANDER: Nice to finally meet you.

PIKE: Nice to know I was mentioned.

XANDER: Maybe once or twice.

PIKE: Good enough for me. So, I’m sure we have a lot to catch up on so how about we head over to my place and do just that.

BUFFY: Sounds like a plan. You need to get your nose checked out.

Buffy gave him a bright smile and linked arms with him. The two of them started walking down the street with Andrew following closely behind.

Xander and Asta watched the two ex-lovers for a moment before starting after them.

ASTA: So that’s Buffy’s ex-boyfriend huh?

XANDER: Yup. And he isn’t a vampire. Amazing.

ASTA: What?

XANDER: Two out of four of Buffy’s boyfriends were vampires.

ASTA: You’re kidding.

XANDER: (sighed) I wish I was.

ASTA: Wow. A slayer dating a vampire. Kinda poetic.

XANDER: (scowled) That’s what they all said before the death and the mayhem started. But that’s Sunnydale for you. Dating vampires, demons and werewolves were kind of a norm.

ASTA: So I’m not going to get that celebratory drink, am I?

XANDER: Way to steal your thunder, huh?

ASTA: Just make sure I get a grand party when I avert my first apocalypse.

XANDER: You have my word.

#############################################
~SOMEWHERE IN HADES VALLEY~
~church~

Matthias sat in the first pew and gazed up at the burnt cross that hung on the wall in front of him. His legs were crossed at his knees and he had his hands laced together on his thighs.

MATTHIAS: I’m in a good mood. I hope you’re not here to spoil it, Marcus.

Marcus, a thin geeky looking vampire, lowered his head in respect. He was standing at the end of the pew with his hands behind his back.

MARCUS: I’m afraid I have bad news, Matthias.

MATTHIAS: Did we lose more of our men?

MARCUS: No. Things have been pretty quiet lately. But the men are feeling a bit disgruntled.

MATTHIAS: Disgruntled. That’s an interesting choice of word.

MARCUS: They are getting a bit impatient with how slowly things are going, Matthias.

MATTHIAS: And whose fault is that?

MARCUS: Mine, Matthias.

MATTHIAS: And make sure they know it.

MARCUS: But…they will kill me.

MATTHIAS: I don’t see how this concerns me, Marcus. Seeing how you have been delivering nothing but bad news to me, maybe it’s time you were to be punished. A replacement is in order perhaps?

Marcus looked up, his eyes filled with terror.

MARCUS: I’ll do better next time, I promise.

MATTHIAS: But that’s the thing, I don’t have time. I need that stone in three days. It’s only then the Stone will work.

MARCUS: Three days is enough, Matthias. I can get you results in three days time.

Matthias turned and for the first time since Marcus entered the church, Matthias held his gaze. He smiled at him.

MATTHIAS: I will give you two days. If you don’t tell me where the Stone is by then, I’ll let our boys know why things are taking so long.

MARCUS: I… Of course, Matthias.

MATTHIAS: Good.

He turned away from the vampire and turned his attention back to the charred cross.

MATTHIAS: You know, when I was part of the church, I always looked up at the cross in awe. I don’t know why I felt that way when I looked at it. It’s just a hunk of wood. How can a hunk of wood make me feel that way?

MARCUS: I don’t know. Maybe it’s what they tell you.

Matthias let out a laugh.

MATTHIAS: You could be right. They fed me with all these stories on what a cross means and what it represents. Tell me, Marcus, was I a fool to believe them?

MARCUS: No, Matthias, you were not.

MATTHIAS: No. Then why do you think I believed them?

MARCUS: Because of faith maybe?

MATTHIAS: Yes, I think you are right. It’s because of that pesky little thing called faith. I had faith in everything. Faith in the church, faith in the men who worked in the church, faith in the cross. (laughed) And look where that led me.

Matthias uncrossed his legs and stood up. With his hands behind his back, Matthias slid out of the pew and strolled towards Marcus. When he was at the vampire’s side, he put his hand around Marcus’ shoulders and led him down the aisle towards the huge double doors.

MATTHIAS: Sometimes I wonder if you have faith in me, Marcus.

MARCUS: I do, Matthias.

MATTHIAS: So you would believe what I tell you?

MARCUS: Every word, Matthias.

MATTHIAS: Good. Then you will believe me when I say that I would not be very happy if I don’t get my Stone in three days?

MARCUS: (stammered) Y-Yes, I-I will.

MATTHIAS: Would you then believe me when I say that I’ll make your suffer if I don’t get my Stone in three days?

MARCUS: Yes I will, Matthias.

MATTHIAS: And why would you believe me, Marcus?

MARCUS: Because I have faith in you.

MATTHIAS: (smiled) Yes. Because you have faith.

#############################################
~PIKE’S/TABITHA’S HOUSE~

Asta, Andrew, Xander and Buffy sat around the dining table with Pike and his sister, Tabitha, sitting across from them. Tabitha studied each of them, not saying a word. Pike smiled uncomfortably at his guests with an ice pack pressed against his nose. He set the ice pack down, placed his hands on the top of the dining table and pushed himself to his feet.

PIKE: Drinks! I’ll get everyone drinks.

He went to the refrigerator and started to go through the contents.

TABITHA: So…you’re the slayer.

BUFFY: Yeah. But I’m kind of retired. Asta’s a slayer too.

Tabitha shifted her gaze from Buffy to Asta who was sitting between Xander and Andrew. Andrew seemed distracted as he eyed a tall pile of books at the end of the dining table.

TABITHA: You don’t look like a slayer.

XANDER: It’s not like a slayer has a certain look. They are not all blond and fierce like Buffy here.

BUFFY: (glared) I’m not fierce.

TABITHA: So how come you’re here? Aren’t you supposed to be in that town in California? What was it called again? Shinydale?

ANDREW: Sunnydale

TABITHA: Right. So why are you here if you’re suppose to be taking care of the Hellmouth there?

BUFFY: We kind of closed the hellmouth and destroyed Sunnydale.

Pike’s head popped out from the refrigerator as he stared at Buffy.

PIKE: You closed a hellmouth? You can do that?

BUFFY: There were circumstances and it certainly wasn’t simple but, yeah, you can close a hellmouth.

TABITHA: So you’re here to close the Hellmouth in Hades?

BUFFY: Not exactly. We are here because of Asta.

Pike shut the door of the refrigerator and brought several soda cans to the dining table. He set them in the center and sat back down in his seat.

PIKE: Fill us in. Maybe we can help.

And so Buffy filled them in on why they were here. From Asta’s visions to the voices she has been hearing to the nightmares that she has been having almost every night. Tabitha and Pike listened intently, interrupting once in awhile to put in a question or two.

She even told them about how the Scooby gang and herself closed the Hellmouth in Sunnydale and how they have reopened the Watchers Council and are gathering slayers from all over the world.

Ten minutes later, the group fell silent once again, letting Pike and Tabitha to take in everything that Buffy had told them.

TABITHA: Well, that’s a hell of a story.

Pike nodded as he took a sip of his can drink.

PIKE: It sure is.

BUFFY: So has there been anything weird going on here that might be linked to Asta’s little situation?

TABITHA: No. I mean, yes weird things have been going on – this is a Hellmouth. We would be worried if weird things don’t happen. But nothing that resembles what you just told us.

PIKE: At the moment, we are having a bit of trouble with a vampire gang. They are called the Vampires of Zoor. They are a handful to say the least.

XANDER: They killed many people?

Pike and Tabitha exchanged glances.

PIKE: They haven’t exactly killed anyone yet. That’s the thing about these vampires. They take orders from a leader and don’t disobey him. So far, the only thing the vampires have done is gone through town and ransacked the place.

ASTA: Ransack? They are searching for something?

TABITHA: (shrugged) I don’t know. We haven’t exactly found out what the Vampires of Zoor are up to and who their leader is yet.

BUFFY: Well, since we are here, I guess we could help you kill these guys. And while defeating this gang, we’ll try to find some information to our problem along the way.

PIKE: Sounds good.

ANDREW: Can I take a look at the books that you have?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~LATER~

Pike and Buffy stepped out of the house and stood on the porch, breathing in the cool night air. They sat down on the porch steps and stared out into the dark night. Everyone else was at the dining table, going through the books that Tabitha and Pike had with them. Andrew got really excited and started organizing a research team, allocating different jobs for everyone there. Being the non-research type, Buffy took that chance and left the dining room, hoping to get some time alone. Pike decided to tag along.

Buffy broke the silence a moment later.

BUFFY: So how are you Pike? It’s been awhile since we last spoke and it looks like I missed out on a lot of things.

PIKE: (chuckled) Yeah, you did. Nothing interesting though – just my life passing by.

BUFFY: Well, it seems like things are going well for you.

PIKE: They are at times. What about you? Settling into retirement well?

BUFFY: Kind of. I’m still trying to get use to it but I’m getting there. I just need to figure out what I’m going to do with my life.

PIKE: I’m sure you’ll do fine. Just let life take its course – go with the flow and all that.

BUFFY: (smiled) I’ll try. So how come you’re not in L.A.? I thought you would stay there till you died.

PIKE: (laughed) A lot has happened. After the whole fiasco with the gym burning down, I got really curious about vampires and the creatures of the underworld. I did a bunch of research and in time became some what of a freelance demon hunter. I got tired of L.A. – I needed a challenge. I heard about the Hellmouth here and since Tabitha moved here as soon as she graduated from high school, I thought it was perfect for me to come here.

BUFFY: (smiled) So, now, you and your sister are the slayers of Hades Valley.

PIKE: I take that as a compliment. I don’t really know much about slayers and their duties or whatever it is that they do. All I know was that they were powerful, strong and you were one of them.

BUFFY: Tabitha was ok with you fighting monsters?

PIKE: She wasn’t at first so I told her she could help me with research while I go out and be a hero. She got into the Wicca stuff as she helped me with research and then one day, she told me she wanted to come along for one of my patrols. The rest is history.

BUFFY: You’re really lucky to have a sister like her. She could have put you in a mental institution when she had the chance.

PIKE: Well…yeah…I guess she trusted me and in what I was doing.

BUFFY: But I’m surprise that you guys are able to fight all these monsters and vampires without getting yourselves killed or seriously hurt. You both seem to be in one piece.

PIKE: Well, my bloody nose says otherwise and…

Pike lifted the hem of his T-shirt and showed her his bandaged abdomen.

PIKE: Looks can be deceiving. I got stabbed recently by one of the Vampires of Zoor.

BUFFY: Ouch.

PIKE: I’ll be fine. I consider this being lucky. Things can get a little rough here and it’s during those times when I’m really glad for that Wicca stuff. But we have two slayers with us now so things are certainly looking up.

BUFFY: I don’t think I will be staying here long. I can’t. I’m needed back in England.

PIKE: Then leave Asta and her Watcher with us. We sure could use the extra fighting hands.

BUFFY: Maybe. I don’t whether I can leave them here without me.

PIKE: Don’t worry. There are in good hands.

The two of them fell silent, enjoying the comfortable silence that they were in.

PIKE: I really missed you Buffy. I always wanted to call you but so much has happened, I didn’t think you would give me the time of day.

BUFFY: A lot has happened over at my end too and I was actually trying to forget everything that happened in L.A.

Pike looked at her intently.

PIKE: Even me?

Buffy looked at him, not sure what to say.

BUFFY: I –

TABITHA: (o.s) Hey Oliver! Buffy! Come in here and look at this.

Buffy raised an eyebrow at Pike.

BUFFY: Oliver?

PIKE: That’s my first name. I keep telling her to call me Pike but she refuses.

BUFFY: So Pike is your…

PIKE: My surname.

BUFFY: So you’re Oliver Pike. We knew each other for a long time and I can’t believe I didn’t know that.

PIKE: (grinned) It’s what keeps me mysterious.

Pike and Buffy stood up and headed back into the house. Tabitha and the rest of the gang were in the living room, crowding around the television set.

PIKE: What’s going on?

TABITHA: Our Nazi pals are on the news – well, their handy work anyway.

The local news was on and a female newscaster was reporting about today’s top story.

NEWSCASTER: Local museum was found turned upside down and vandalized an hour ago when police got a call from the museum security reporting that the silent alarm went off. When the police got to the scene of the crime, the perpetrators had already done their damage. Priceless artwork was slashed to shreds while artifacts were smashed to pieces. Artifacts that were to go on show for tomorrow’s Egyptian Week weren’t spared either.

BUFFY: How do you know that the Vampires of Zoor did this?

TABITHA: Listen.

NEWSCASTER: Museum authorities say that so far, they are yet to find if anything has been stolen. Authorities are still going through the wreckage. Police Chief Jim Morris has told Channel 6 News that the culprits were caught on the museum’s CCTV so there is a high chance of finding them.

A footage caught on the CCTV came on and they watched as 4 men ran through the museum destroying everything in sight. A glimpse of one of the men’s face came onto the screen and the familiar marking was seen.

PIKE: (grimly) That’s our gang. That tattoo is kind of their gang colours.

NEWSCASTER: If you have any news, please contact the police at 1800-910-1129. Next, we bring you our weather report by Mark Wayne.

Tabitha reached over and switched the television off.

ASTA: Wrecking a museum. Why would they do that? I don’t see them as the learning type.

XANDER: Maybe they were looking for whatever they are looking for in that museum. We can go down there and take a look. The cops might miss something that we might find useful.

TABITHA: Good idea. But I don’t think we can go now. The place will still be crawling with cops. We could go after midnight.

BUFFY: We’ll split up. All of us heading towards a trashed museum would attract attention. Some of us will go down to the museum, while some can stay here and do research and the others will do some patrol – might bump into the vampires that did that.

ASTA: I’m guessing I’m doing the patrol.

PIKE: Go to the cemetery. A vampire we questioned said that there would be a meeting with the leader at Robinson’s mausoleum.

BUFFY: Ok. That would be a good place to start. (to Asta) You and Xander take patrolling. Pike and I will go down to the museum.

TABITHA: I’ll take research with Watcher boy then.

BUFFY: Good. If you have any information on what they are looking for or where their hideout is, call us.

ANDREW: Roger that, boss.

[shred]

ACT 3

~MUSEUM~
~after midnight~

Pike and Buffy crouched behind a huge dumpster, waiting for the guard that the police posted to go around the museum building. They have been watching the guard for a few minutes now and they roughly knew his pattern. He should be going to the alley on the other side soon.

PIKE: So, tell me, do you do this a lot in Sunnydale?

BUFFY: Usually I flashed my incredible smile and flirt a little before getting in. But since you’re here this time round, I don’t think he would fall for it.

PIKE: (chuckled) I forgot you had a sense of humor.

BUFFY: Ok, he’s gone. Let’s go.

As quietly as they could, they hurried towards the entrance of the museum. The door was locked so Buffy had to break it, using extra force when she twisted her doorknob. All this made quite a ruckus so instead of waiting to see if the guard heard them, Buffy pushed the door open and the two of them hurried in. Pike closed the door softly behind them. He looked around before spotting a lead pipe on the ground and placing it against the door.

PIKE: (to Buffy) To keep the door closed. That way the guard wouldn’t have a clue.

BUFFY: So do you do this a lot in Hades?

PIKE: (grimly) More than I like unfortunately.

The museum was a small place. It looked more like a personal gallery than an actual museum. It had two floors – the first floor is where all the valuable paintings were hung and the second floor was where all the artifacts were kept in cases.

The place was wrecked pretty badly – glass, wooden frames and pieces of ripped canvas were strewn all over the floor. Some of the walls had gaping holes in them. Near the staircase that led to the second floor, Buffy spotted a sledgehammer.

PIKE: They were really looking for something.

BUFFY: And it looks like they are getting desperate. Making holes in the walls? Signs of desperation much.

PIKE: We should split up. I’ll take the upstairs while you look around here. Holler if you find anything.

Buffy nodded and carefully made her way through the mess.

BUFFY: What am I supposed to look for?

PIKE: I don’t know. Patterns maybe – what they destroyed and what they didn’t. It might give us a clue as to what they were looking for.

Pike walked towards the stairs and climbed to the second level. Buffy ventured further into the museum, her eyes picking out pieces of valuable painting among the rubble. As she made her way through the mess, she realized that the damage wasn’t as extensive as the news made it out to be.

There were some paintings that didn’t suffer as much damage as the rest. Though most of them had marks and scratches on them, they weren’t sliced up into strips like the other paintings were and some of them had managed to stay on the wall.

Buffy walked towards the first painting on her right, it hung tilted on the wall. The painting was of a young girl gazing out of a window at a pond with a thick forest surrounding it. It was a pretty picture and it looked like it cost a fortune. And from what Buffy could see, there wasn’t any damage inflicted to the painting at all.

There was a bronze plaque just below the painting with the important information – the painter’s name, country the painter was from and the date of when it was painted – on it.

Buffy leaned down to read the plaque.

BUFFY: Henrik Berg, 1708, Sweden.

Buffy straightened and looked at the painting.

BUFFY: I would have preferred a rainbow instead.

She turned away and continued walking, absentmindedly reading off plaques that managed to stay on the wall and those that were on the floor. Her eyes also glanced over each and every single painting there was – damaged or otherwise – trying desperately to find a clue or a pattern.

It was only after going down the hall and looking through all the plaques and paintings did Buffy realize something.

She doubled back and reread the unharmed plaques again – this time out loud.

BUFFY: 1890, 1756, 1209, 1715…

Buffy trailed off as she glanced down at the broken plaques on the floor. She picked up a few and read the dates out loud.

BUFFY: 1718, 1717, 1717, 1720, 1718. A pattern? I think yes.

She hurried out of the hall and went to the area she and Pike came in from.

BUFFY: Pike! I think I found a pattern.

#############################################
~PIKE/TABITHA’S HOUSE~

Tabitha was walking around the dining table with a book in her hand. Andrew was seated at the dining table with at least five books open before him. He flipped the page of one of the books, a particular paragraph catching his attention.

ANDREW: Hmm…the Stone of Zoor. (to Tabitha) Have you ever heard of it?

TABITHA: What’s a slayer?

Andrew looked up at the pacing girl, confused.

ANDREW: What?

TABITHA: A slayer? What’s a slayer?

ANDREW: A slayer is Buffy and Asta. And a few other thousands of girls around the world.

TABITHA: I know who they are but what are they? Demon? Girls with superpowers like Superman? Xena on steroids?

Andrew let out a laugh, shaking his head in amusement.

ANDREW: Xena on steroids. (thoughtfully) Interesting.

TABITHA: So what are they?

ANDREW: It’s an interesting story. Gather around and I’ll fill you in.

Tabitha stopped walking and looked at Andrew skeptically.

TABITHA: Seriously?

ANDREW: It’s a long story.

Tabitha shrugged and sat down. As soon as Tabitha was seated, Andrew got up and started walking around the dining table.

TABITHA: You’re going to make me dizzy.

ANDREW: Do you want to know what a slayer is?

TABITHA: Yeah…

ANDREW: Then listen carefully.

TABITHA: Whatever you say.

ANDREW: The first slayer was created by this real chauvinistic men called the Shadow men. The strength of the slayer lies in the energy of the demon, its spirit and its heart. All of it becomes one with the girl and she becomes the slayer.

TABITHA: So the slayer is actually a demon.

ANDREW: Well…partly.

TABITHA: Interesting. (glared) And the story isn’t that long, you moron.

ANDREW: So coming back to this. Have you heard about this Stone of Zoor?

TABITHA: The what of what?

ANDREW: The Stone of Zoor. It was conjured when Joseph Zoor was banished underground.

TABITHA: No, never heard of it. You think it has something to do with what the vampires are looking for.

Andrew reached out and grabbed another book off the table top.

ANDREW: Only one way to find out.
#############################################
~CEMETERY~

Marcus hurried through the cemetery with a small object bundled up in a dirty, brown coloured cloth close to his chest. Constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure he wasn’t being followed, he tightened his grip on the object. A small mausoleum came into view and he made his way towards it.

A minute later, Marcus burst through the heavy stone doors, his eyes scanning the interior frantically.

MARCUS: Matthias?

The mausoleum was filled with about ten to fifteen vampires. Some were milling around, chatting while some were feeding on a body. When he entered the mausoleum, all activity stopped and all eyes landed on him.

A vampire dressed in leather stood up and approached him. A toothpick dangled from his pale lips and bounced precariously as he spoke.

VAMP: Ya looking for the boss?

Marcus turned towards the vampire and nodded hard.

MARCUS: I must see him. Where is he?

The vampire shrugged, chewing on the small wooden stick.

VAMP: Haven’t seen him. Told us to meet him here half an hour ago but no sign of him yet.

Marcus started to panic.

MARCUS: But it’s important! I must see him!

VAMP: What are ya? Deaf? I already told ya – he’s not here.

Marcus grabbed the vampire’s upper arm and gave him a shake. A flash of annoyance swept across the vampire’s face. The mark of Zoor on his forehead crinkled and looked as if it were glaring at Marcus.

MARCUS: Do you know where he is? Is he back at the church?

The leather clad vampire shrugged again.

VAMP: I have no idea. Why don’t ya let go of me and wait awhile? I’m sure he’ll turn up. He’s a man of his word – or so he says. Have a drink, why don’t ya?

Marcus let go of the creature and shook his head violently.

MARCUS: I can’t. I must see Matthias now! It’s important.

VAMP: I’m sure it is fella. But he’s not here so I can’t help ya.

The vampire ripped Marcus’ grip away from his arm and pushed him back. Marcus stumbled back and hit something behind him. The object almost slipped out from his hands. He was about to hit the ground when two hands latched onto his shoulders and steadied him.

Marcus glanced over his shoulder and almost wept with joy when he saw who it was.

MATTHIAS: Marcus! Certainly nice to see you here.

MARCUS: Matthias, I’m so glad I finally found you.

MATTHIAS: (chuckled) Well, actually I found you.

Marcus looked away, embarrassed.

MARCUS: I looked everywhere for you but –

MATTHIAS: Shut up Marcus.

Marcus did what he was told, snapping his mouth shut immediately. Matthias looked down and noticed the object in Marcus’ hands. He cocked his head in interest.

MATTHIAS: Is that for me?

MARCUS: (nodded) Yes. I found it, Matthias. I found it.

Matthias looked at the younger vampire in surprise.

MATTHIAS: Boys? Surround the area. Make sure there’s no one in the area.

VAMP: Yes boss.

A handful of vampires started filing out while Matthias stared at the small object in Marcus’ hands.

MATTHIAS: It’s time.

A slow, evil grin crept across his face as he took the object from Marcus.

#############################################
~PIKE’S/TABITHA’S HOUSE~

Andrew cradled the cordless phone between his right cheek and shoulder as he flipped through one of the ancient tomes. Tabitha was at the other end of the dining table, across from him, listening intently to the conversation he was having on the phone. She was leaning forward with her elbows on the table top, fingers laced together.

ANDREW: Paintings and artifacts from 1717 – 1720 were destroyed while the rest were unharmed. That is so cool because it makes my theory right. The Vampires of Zoor are looking for a stone. It’s called the Stone of Zoor. It was forged when Joseph Zoor was banished underground.

Andrew paused as he scanned a page in the book.

ANDREW: It says here that it is used to break the spell on Joseph and free him. To prevent anyone from finding the stone, the priests who banished him hid the stone and rumor has it, they hid is in famous paintings or famous artifacts that were made during that period of time.

Andrew closed the book and set it down on the table.

ANDREW: So it looks like his gang is trying to free him. And if they are trying to free him, I’m guessing that this Joseph dude is still alive somewhere underground in Finland.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BUFFY: It doesn’t matter whether or not Joseph is alive. He can’t do much while he is trapped underground. These vampires don’t do the dirty work on their own – someone is pulling the strings and we need to find this puppet master.

Buffy and Pike had left the museum ten minutes ago and after they left, Buffy called Andrew on her cell phone to give him the information that she and Pike had gotten from their search in the museum.

While Buffy spoke to Andrew, she and Pike headed towards the cemetery to see whether Xander and Asta needed a hand in patrolling.

BUFFY: Finding the leader is important right now. The Stone can be anywhere and by looking at the state the museum was in, they could have gotten the Stone already. Is there a ritual they have to do in order to free Joseph from his little cell underground?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~PIKE’S/TABITHA’S HOUSE~

ANDREW: Not really a ritual. More like an action. It doesn’t state in the books whether this action has to be done at a specific place and time. All it states is the action. But Tabitha and I can continue our research and see if we can find anything else. Maybe we can try and help you find where the gang is mostly likely to be. You could go over to their little hang out place and kick their asses. It might stall them from finding the Stone.

Tabitha perked up at what Andrew said. She straightened and waved her hand at him, trying to grab his attention. Andrew raised his eyebrows at her.

TABITHA: I think I know where you might find the gang. Ask them to go to the cemetery Oliver went – the place he got stabbed by one of those vampires.

ANDREW: (to Buffy) Tabitha says she know where to find the gang. She asks you to go to the cemetery where Oliver – I mean, Pike – got stabbed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buffy placed a hand over the mouth piece of the cell phone and spoke to Pike.

BUFFY: We have to go to the cemetery where you got stabbed. The Vampires of Zoor might be there.

PIKE: The mausoleum there. Tabby and I ambushed some of those vamps there and it was the same mausoleum that I saw the vampires enter before I got stabbed.

BUFFY: (to Pike) Alright, we’ll head there. (to Andrew) We’re heading over to that cemetery. I’ll call Xander and Asta to meet us there. You and Tabitha keep researching on the Stone. See whether you can find its exact hiding place. Call us as soon as you find anything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~PIKE’S/TABITHA’S HOUSE~

ANDREW: Roger that. Oh and Buffy? I think you probably would want to know what that action is to break the spell.

Andrew paused dramatically and looked at Tabitha.

ANDREW: All they have to do is break the Stone of Zoor.

#############################################
~CEMETERY~

XANDER: You’re pretty quiet. Anything wrong?

ASTA: No, it’s nothing.

XANDER: It sure doesn’t sound like nothing. Want to talk about it?

ASTA: Really, it’s nothing.

XANDER: Ok.

Silence descended on the two of them as they strode further into the cemetery.

ASTA: (sighed) I have no idea what I’m going to do here.

XANDER: What do you mean?

ASTA: (looked at Xander) Why am I here?

XANDER: (confuse) To learn more about the dreams and the visions you’re having?

Asta looked away from Xander and dropped her gaze to the ground. She shook her head sadly.

ASTA: I shouldn’t be here.

XANDER: What is this about?

ASTA: Never mind. You wouldn’t understand.

Xander reached out and touched her shoulder.

XANDER: Try me.

Asta sighed in frustration. She looked around the cemetery with a mixture of anger and sadness in her eyes.

ASTA: I left Hades for a reason. I shouldn’t be back here.

XANDER: Ok, I’m going to stop you before you carry on because you’re losing me.

Asta shook her head in frustration.

ASTA: Never mind. Just forget it alright. It’s nothing.

Without giving him a chance to respond, Asta walked ahead of him. He managed to catch up a few seconds later but she made sure she didn’t look at him. She didn’t want to give him the chance to bring up the topic again.

As she walked further into the cemetery, Asta spotted a familiar silhouette approaching her. She stopped in her tracks in surprise.

ASTA: (whispered) No. Not again.

XANDER: Uh oh. We got trouble.

Asta blinked in surprise as she glanced over at Xander.

ASTA: You can see him?

XANDER: Him? I can see them.

Asta looked at the direction he was looking at and noticed a group of vampires advancing towards Xander and her. Asta glanced over at the silhouette, wondering which one she should be dealing with first. The silhouette stood still.

ASTA: But do you see him?

XANDER: Him? I see many hims. I see a him which looks a lot like a her so which of the him are you talking about?

Asta gritted her teeth as she dropped into her fighting stance. Her attention went back and forth between the mysterious silhouette and the group of vampires.

ASTA: Maybe you should alert Buffy about this. There’s too many of them and only two of us.

VAMP #1: You don’t have to call anybody, little girl. This will be over quick. No time for phone calls.

ASTA: Xander…

XANDER: On it!

Xander pulled out his cell phone from his pocket and pushed the button that speed dials Buffy’s number. Buffy picked up at the second ring.

XANDER: Buffy? We –

Xander didn’t get to finish his sentence as the vampire who spoke rushed him and knocked the phone out of his hands. Without warning, the vampire slugged him across the face and Xander collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

VAMP #1: I said no calls.

The vampire stomped on the cell phone, crushing it into smithereens.

ASTA: Xander!

VAMP #1: Grab her and make her quiet. We need to get rid of her and I don’t want her attracting any attention while we’re doing so.

VAMP #2: What are we going to do with the boy?

VAMP #1: We’ll kill him of course. (grinned) And we’ll let the girl watch.

Asta stood rooted to the ground as the vampires grabbed her, making her immobile. She watched helplessly as the other vampires went towards Xander, their teeth gleaming under the moonlight.

[shred]

ACT 4

BUFFY: Xander? Hello? Xander? Are you there?

PIKE: What’s wrong?

Buffy pulled her cell phone away from her ear and stared at it in confusion.

BUFFY: Xander called but I think he got cut off before he could say anything.

PIKE: He got cut off?

BUFFY: (frowned) Yeah…

PIKE: You think…?

BUFFY: (looked at Pike) I think he’s in trouble.

PIKE: They are at the cemetery. It’s only a few blocks away. We can get there before anything bad happens.

BUFFY: Let’s hope nothing has gone bad already.

The two of them broke into a sprint towards the direction of the cemetery.

#############################################
~CEMETERY~

Asta finally snapped herself out of her state of stupor and started to struggle against the vampires that held onto her.

VAMP #1: Hold still, damn it!

ASTA: Let me go!

VAMP #2: (sneered) Not if you say please.

ASTA: (growled) Please!

With that, she stomped hard on the vampire’s foot. The vampire responded by howling in pain.

VAMP #2: Bitch!

Taking this moment of distraction, Asta used the strong grip the other two vampires had on her arms, hoisted herself and slammed her boots into the face of the vampire, breaking various bones. She landed on the ground and using all the strength she had in her arms, she slammed the two vampires together. The two of them let go of her arms and stumbled to the ground, dazed.

ASTA: (smiled) Andrew will be so proud.

She pulled out a stake and plunged it into the first vampire. She turned to stake the other two vampires but they were already recovered from their knock and were advancing towards her fast. A moment later, the two vampires rained punches at her and Asta had to do everything in her power to defend herself from the blows.

A fist connected with her jaw and Asta lost her balance. That gave the other vampire the chance to get in another blow at her jaw. Asta suddenly tasted the coppery flavour of blood coating the inside of her mouth. Not stopping to catch out the extent of the damage done in her mouth, Asta dropped to the ground and swiped her legs towards the two vampires. Her legs caught one of the vampires while the other one leapt over her head and landed somewhere behind her. The vampire that she caught fell to the ground in front of her and without hesitation, Asta staked it.

She then got to her feet and faced the other vampire that landed behind her. But all she saw was rows and rows of tombstones. The vampire was nowhere to be seen.

Pocketing her stake, she rushed over to the unconscious Xander. She knelt down beside him, flipped him over and started shaking him.

ASTA: Xander! Xander! Wake up, damn it!

Footsteps pounded behind her and Asta tensed. She risked a glance over her shoulder and relaxed a little when she saw Buffy and her ex-boyfriend, Pike, running over to her and Xander.

BUFFY: Asta, are you alright? What happened?

ASTA: I’m fine. We were attacked by some vampires with those weird markings on their foreheads. Xander got knocked out.

PIKE: You stay here while Buffy and I hunt them down. Their –

BUFFY: No, Asta’s coming with us.

Pike looked at Buffy in surprise.

PIKE: What?

BUFFY: Asta’s the slayer so she should come with us.

PIKE: What about Xander then?

BUFFY: You’re staying here with him until he wakes up. (to Asta) Asta, hand me your stake.

Asta did what she was told. Buffy took her stake and pressed it into Pike’s hand.

BUFFY: This should cover you for awhile. Once Xander wakes up, you both come and find us and be our back up.

Pike took a step back and shook his head. He let the stake fall to the ground.

PIKE: I’m not going to stay with the one-eyed kid. You need me to fight with you.

BUFFY: Don’t worry, Pike, we can handle it. We are slayers after all – we are born to do this kind of stuff without you helping us. We’ll be fine.

ASTA: You know, maybe I’ll stay here with Xander and both of you –

Buffy cut Asta off as she grabbed Asta’s hand and dragged her away from Pike and Xander.

BUFFY: We’ll be fine.

A moment later, Asta found herself racing through the cemetery behind Buffy. Half a minute later, the two of them stopped in front of a mausoleum.

ASTA: Ok, so what’s the plan?

BUFFY: We go in and fight.

ASTA: That’s it? That’s your plan?

BUFFY: Usually, I don’t do plans. It’s a waste of time.

Asta sputtered unintelligently as she stared at the older slayer.

ASTA: Plans save lives! Especially mine!

Buffy lifted a finger towards Asta, shushing her. The blond had her head pressed against the large, heavy door and her brow was furrowed in concentration.

BUFFY: Are you ready for some heavy grunt work cause that’s what we are going to expect.

ASTA: So in other words, there are a lot of vampires in there.

Buffy backed away from the door, grinning.

BUFFY: Let’s be slayers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pike was starting to feel restless. After Buffy and Asta ran towards the mausoleum where the vampires were thought to be, Pike grabbed Xander’s arms and dragged him to a large oak tree. Pike felt that they were both too exposed where they originally were.

Now, he was crouching beside Xander, peering from behind the oak tree, looking out for any signs of danger. From where he was, he couldn’t see the mausoleum. The place was quiet and he couldn’t hear any sounds of fighting. He wondered for the hundredth time that night whether Buffy and her friend were alright.

Xander groaned and stirred slightly. Pike knelt down and started slapping the other man’s face. He didn’t do it gently.

PIKE: Come on, Xander. Wake up!

Xander groaned again and this time his eyelids fluttered.

PIKE: Finally!

Pike took the stake that Buffy handed to him and placed it beside the groggy Xander.

PIKE: That’s your defense weapon so use it wisely. I’m going to help Buffy and your girlfriend.

Without waiting for a reply, Pike got to his feet and sped towards the direction where the mausoleum was. Xander struggled to sit up. He squinted at Pike’s back.

XANDER: Girlfriend?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

With a grunt, Buffy slammed the heel of her boot against the door of the mausoleum. The door swung open and crashed against the inside wall of the mausoleum. The occupants inside dropped whatever they are doing and stared at the intruders.

Buffy placed her hands on her hips and smirked at the vampires before her.

BUFFY: Hello boys.

Asta, who was standing behind Buffy, tried to look as nonchalant as Buffy but she couldn’t. She was scared. There were too many vampires around and there were only two of them. The odds did not look good at all.

ASTA: Erm…hi?

A tall, distinguished man was the last to turn around to face Asta and Buffy and when he did, he looked calm and produced a warm smile. In his hands was a small stone that sparkled even though there was no light source entering the mausoleum.

MAN: Hello. I was certainly not expecting company.

BUFFY: (shrugged) Well, I thought maybe you could use some girls in the mix – you know, to spice things up.

The man chuckled and shook his head slightly. His blue eyes stared hard at them and he frowned.

MAN: You’re not girls.

His gaze landed on Asta and Asta visibly shuddered when his gaze turned cold.

MAN: You’re demons.

Asta blinked at the man’s words.

VOICE: You’re not good, you’re evil.

BUFFY: Well, technically we are not demons – just slayers. But seeing how slayers came about, you’re not really wrong.

The man still had his eyes on Asta as he spoke.

MAN: You’re special. So sad I didn’t find you first. I would love to have you.

BUFFY: Hey! No having of people of any kind without my permission. Shall we just fight instead of continuing this pre-fight chatter? I’m starting to get bored.

MAN: My pleasure.

He raised his hands with the stone in them high above his head and with one motion, he send the stone crashing to the ground. The stone smashed into smithereens upon impact, sending sharp pieces of debris flying everywhere.

BUFFY: Damn! He broke the stone.

ASTA: (worriedly) Is that bad?

As if on cue, all of the vampires in the mausoleum stood up and started approaching them with evil smiles on their vampiric faces.

ASTA: This is not good, Buffy. We need to go get Pike.

BUFFY: We are slayers. That’s all you’ve got to remember.

That was the last thing Buffy said as she threw herself at the first five vampires. Within moments, they were dust.

BUFFY: Asta, you gotta help me or I’ll be –

Buffy ducked as a leg flew towards her head. She leapt and kicked the vampire in the face, causing its neck to snap back.

BUFFY: – dead!

ASTA: But…but I have no stake. I can’t fight without a stake.

Buffy abandoned her fight for moment to grab Asta by the shoulders and gave her a hard shake.

BUFFY: You’re a slayer damn it! You can beat them. Just believe in your power.

Buffy let go of her shoulders and returned her attention to her fight.

ASTA: Ok, I can do this. Just believe. (pause) I need a damn stake!

VOICE: And you shall have one.

Asta turned around and saw Pike standing in the doorway with a few thick tree branches in his hand. He tossed one to Asta.

PIKE: It’s not the best but it works.

ASTA: Thanks.

Gripping the branch tight, she faced the oncoming vampires. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted the handsome man, sneaking to the back of the mausoleum. Asta wasn’t sure whether there was an exit at the back but she wasn’t about to take that chance to find out.

ASTA: I’m a slayer.

She ducked her head; her eyes trained on the man, and darted between the coming vampires. A moment later, she had the man by the throat and slammed him against the wall of the mausoleum.

ASTA: Going somewhere?

The man smiled slightly.

MAN: You think you can take me, girl?

ASTA: Well, I do have you by the throat and this branch is sticking against your heart so…yeah, I can take you.

VOICE: Matthias!

ASTA: You Matthias?

MATTHIAS: (sneered) You have no idea who you are dealing with, little girl.

Something slammed into Asta from her right side and she felt herself releasing Matthias and flying towards the other end of the room. Straddling her was a geeky vampire that looked like he was about to tear her head off.

VAMP: No one touches Matthias without dying after!

ASTA: I’ll keep that in mind.

She head butted the vampire and he fell back to the ground, howling in pain. She stabbed him with the branch. She scanned the room, trying her hardest to look for Matthias but with everything that was going in the mausoleum, it was difficult to spot the leader of the vampire gang.

PIKE: Buffy! Some are getting away!

Asta turned her attention towards the door of the mausoleum and saw about five vampires leaving the mausoleum in a hurry. With a burst of speed, Asta ran towards the entrance. Once she came out of the mausoleum, she spotted the vampires running towards the exit of the cemetery. Matthias was not in sight.

Then someone wrapped an arm around her neck from behind, choking her.

MATTHIAS: Looking for me, girl?

He wrapped another arm around her and dragged her off further into the cemetery.

ASTA: Let me go, jerk!

Asta struggled hard against her captor for a few minutes but Matthias didn’t show signs of loosening his grip. Then without warning, he threw her to the ground. Asta scrambled to her feet and surveyed her surroundings. They were both in another part of the cemetery that she wasn’t familiar with.

ASTA: Ok, what do you want from me? Shouldn’t you be killing me by now?

MATTHIAS: Not quite yet. You’re…special. I need you around a little longer.

ASTA: Sorry. I’m afraid I can’t stick around for long. I got work to do.

She threw herself at Matthias, swinging a fist at his face. Matthias easily caught her hand and twisted it behind her back.

MATTHIAS: Don’t flatter yourself, girl. You can’t fight me.

He pushed her to the ground roughly. Asta looked up and saw his foot coming towards her face fast. She didn’t have the time to react and the foot connected with her jaw, flinging her back.

MATTHIAS: You know I came here to find the Stone of Zoor in hopes to release my brother from his mystical underground cell that he has been trapped in for hundreds of years but in the middle of breaking the Stone, two slayers came barging in. How rude. But then I told myself, “They are just slayers. How hard can it be?” But that was before I laid my eyes on you.

Matthias kicked her again and this time in the stomach, causing her to roll a few feet away from him. Asta clutched her abdomen, coughing hard.

MATTHIAS: Do you know how special you are, my dear?

ASTA: I do. I’m a slayer.

MATTHIAS: No, no, no. You’re not just a slayer. You’re different. So different that a mere vampire like me could tell you’re special.

ASTA: What are you talking about? What am I?

MATTHIAS: That’s an interesting question. And one answer I would love to have.

Asta struggled to sit up but the pain in her abdomen and jaw caused her to stay down. She looked up at the vampire towering over her, wincing.

ASTA: You know what, Matthias. You should try to cut down on the chatter and just get on with it.

And as if on cue, a stake stuck out from Matthias’ chest where his dead heart laid. Matthias looked down in horror at the stake protruding from his chest and then at Asta.

MATTHIAS: You damn, demon –

Matthias crumbled to dust, revealing a weary looking Xander.

XANDER: You alright?

ASTA: (sighed) I hate being a slayer.

She slumped to the ground, exhausted.

#############################################
~PIKE’S/TABITHA’S HOUSE~
~later~

ANDREW: (sighed) So Matthias broke the stone.

ASTA: Is that a bad thing?

Andrew looked at Asta as if she had grown two heads.

ANDREW: Well, ! Joseph Zoor is now released from his underground, mystical cell thingy.

ASTA: But he’s all the way in Finland. He can’t harm us.

TABITHA: But he can harm the people in Finland.

ASTA: Oh. Right.

BUFFY: I’ll call Giles and give him the heads up. I’m sure he has some slayers in Finland who are able to take care of Zoor.

XANDER: Let’s hope he’s nothing like his brother Matthias.

The six of them fell silent as they drifted off into their own worlds. They were all seated around the living of Pike’s and Tabitha’s house. They have been there ever since Buffy, Asta, Xander and Pike came back from the cemetery.

TABITHA: So what now? What are your plans?

Buffy exchanged looks with Xander before glancing over at Asta.

BUFFY: I’m going back to England. Asta, Xander and Andrew are staying here. We haven’t exactly done anything about our situation yet – there are still many unanswered questions that need to be answered and they will stay here until they find those answers.

TABITHA: You’re welcome to stay here too, you know.

BUFFY: I know. But I’m needed more in England than here. I only came to make sure that they would be fine by themselves and after tonight, I’m convinced that they will be. And they have you and Pike so I can sleep easy. (to Xander) But one sign of major trouble, you’re calling me.

XANDER: (smiled) Yes, madam

PIKE: So that’s it?

BUFFY: Yeah. I’m leaving first thing tomorrow.

PIKE: We’ll miss you. I’ll miss you. Make sure you come visit us.

BUFFY: (smiled) I’ll be here for the next apocalypse.

Pike and Buffy shared a smile before being interrupted by Tabitha.

TABITHA: Well. I guess we should get some rest. It has been a long day and I’m sure everyone here wants to put in some sleep before the next big fight.

Everyone grunted in agreement and they all rose, heading off in different directions.

XANDER: (to Asta) So…how did you find your first night back in your hometown?

ASTA: Just like I expected it. If every night is like this, I should start writing my will now.

XANDER: (laughs) Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. You have us. And Andrew. And also, you’re the slayer and that makes you special.

ASTA: Special. I heard that word many times tonight.

Xander swung an arm over the shoulder of the sullen slayer and led her towards the front door.

XANDER: How about we go get that celebratory drink?


CUT TO BLACK

END CREDITS

Written by
Irene Issac

Story Editor
Rebecca Schwarz

Art Designer
Amber Jacobs

Special Thanks To
Everyone and anyone who helped in making this episode a success

A BECK TO SHREDS production. © 2007 Irene Issac

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