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Date Posted: 18:05:33 07/15/02 Mon
Author: UHC
Subject: Bonded (Chapter 6)

Title: Bonded (6/7)
Author: Andrew Craig
E-mail: fifan@s...
Rating: say PG-14 same as the show
Disclaimer: The characters do not belong to me. They belong to
Joss Whedon and some suits. If they belonged to me all of the
sweet character moments wouldn't be happening over on Angel.
This story is still mine though.
Feedback: Please.
Category: B/X , love triangles to follow.
Summary: There are more players in the game then just Good
and Evil. Buffy is about to find that out the hard way.

-----

There is no up side to getting knocked out. Every time Buffy woke
up after getting her brains bashed in she half expected to be
missing vital parts. The splitting headache and nausea never
helped either. At least this time she found herself on a soft rug
instead of the hard ground. Small mercies.
It looked to be the bedroom of a luxury hotel or house, big bed
and plush furniture plus tons of rugs. Then there was the
asshole who put her here standing not three feet away. Dumb
move on his part.
Buffy lunged for the creep but didn't make it more than two
steeps before crashing back to the ground. That was bad, she
was a bit dizzy from the blow to the head but not `crash to the
floor' dizzy. Was she drugged?
"Sorry Slayer, no violence allowed in this room. Pacifism
enchantment, you can't even raise a fist. If it makes you feel any
better the spell doesn't discriminate, I can't hurt you either. Add
to that the spell of weight that is holding you in place and I doubt
you are going much of anywhere."
Nuts. Stupid villains with their advance planning.
"Great. So you going to kill me or force me to listen while you
gloat first?"
He crouched down in front of her and gave her a strangely
non-threatening look.
"I have no intention of harming you Slayer. That was never our
goal. Whether or not you realize it you are one of us and a friend.
My name is Keln by the way. It is good to see you again after all
these years."
"Enough with the `join us' already. Want a bad Slayer, go look up
Faith. I'm on the side of truth, justice and kicking the crap out of
creeps like you."
"The other Slayer, we have plans for her but you are far more
important. I must give her credit though, she at least realized the
difference between us and the breeders."
"Breeders? So you're gay as well as psychotic?"
"The week who exist only to serve the strong. There are many on
this world who need to learn their place in the scheme of life."
"So you can add fascist to your resume. How cute."
"You feel that way now, I understand. Once you remember how
things were before I have no doubt those feeling will change.
They always do."
"Well as long as you're being explain-o boy how about filling me
in on the details. Just so, you know, I can understand who's butt
I'm going to be kicking."
"Very well, we have some time to waste before the boss gets
here for the awakening."
Keln removed his cloak and sat cross-legged across from her.
His friendly pose and conversational tone were quite creepy in
light of the way he'd been trying to slice her up before.
"You understand who we are correct?"
"Reavers. Chaos worshipers."
"It is a bit more than that but close enough. As you may have
found out we come from a dimension ruled by the gods of
Chaos. The problem with drawing our power from Chaos is that
we became tied to it. We could travel to other worlds but couldn't
survive there. The faction I serve has spent the last twenty
lifetimes in attempts at gaining domination over our homeland.
Success always eluded us, we were great in power but few in
number. We would have long since left for another realm if such
were possible. After the last war we found a way, to cause our
spirits to be reborn in this world. A slower method than a direct
invasion but it was necessary."
"So you think I'm one of you chaos creeps? No way, I'm pure
native earth-girl."
"I thought the same until my own awakening. I lived countless
lives before this one and will live countless more. It is the way of
our kind, when I was forced to remember all those silly things I
had thought so important no longer held any meaning. With this
cut I became a new and better man."
At that Keln traced the line of his neck scar.
"You awaken by almost getting your head cut off? Eww, that is so
wrong."
"A car wreck. Sometimes serious physical or mental trauma will
force the awakening. Such was true in my case. For you a simple
spell will suffice, the hard way often leads to…side effects."
"Like what, you put on funny hats when you slaughter innocent
people?"
"Ah. Arc. The flame mage you fought. He had a rather bad life
before awakening during a botched suicide attempt. The
experience left him a bit off. The majority of our kind may be
ruthless but we are in no way insane. But enough about such
unpleasant things, let us speak like the old friends we are"
"When the Hellmouth freezes over."
"You may deny it now but consider that even un-awakened you
act like one of us."
"Just not getting it that I'm one of the good guys are you?"
"Consider the blood rush. You feel it after every battle, the
sensation of total power. Power and wealth are nice but nothing
compares to that rush, it is what draws us back to this bloody
path life after life. Better then sex."
"Maybe you just suck in bed."
"Don't bother trying to hide things from me Slayer, I'm an
empath. You love the rush as much as I do."
"I prefer to think of it as satisfaction from a job well done. If you
can read my mind why are we even having this conversation?"
"I'm an empath not a mind reader. You wear your emotions on
your sleeve so reading them is easy. Actually knowing your
thoughts is beyond me."
"Good, cause if you knew what I was thinking right about know
your head would explode."
"Firm in your convictions, a good thing to be even when they are
wrong. If not killing then maybe we could speak of dying. You
recently endured your first true resurrection, always a difficult
time. Maybe I should tell you a little bit about the afterlife, it might
just change the way you see things."

……

Dawn was taking the being an incorporeal spirit thing well, better
than Xander was. While she played around with walking through
walls he needed to talk with Gwen about this new condition.
"This isn't permanent right? She can still go back to being Dawn
when this whole mess is over can't she?"
"That would follow logic. To be human is now her natural form,
the only reason she is now a blade is that you both desire it.
Don't worry Xander, she'll be fine."
"Thank God. Let's go then."
"Sorry Xander, it has to be just the two of you."
"Wh…"
"Frea's power can more her and her bondmate, no passengers.
That means that when you do find your friend a more
conventional exit will be required."
"Damn. Well, I guess we make do. I'd feel a lot better if you
where along to give me some pointers on these guys."
"Just avoid combat if at all possible. Heroics at this point will get
you all killed, find her sister then run like hell. If a fight is
inevitable trust to instinct, whatever force bonded the two of you
should allow you to draw on the strength of that bond."
"Thank's Yoda."
"So I'm an ugly green puppet to you?"
"You know Star Wars?"
"After nearly a year listing to the talk that went on in that store I
know more about the pointless youth culture of your society then
I care to. The sad power fantasies, the strange fixation on
blondes, the pathetic…"
"Ok, I get it already. I have got to introduce you to Giles someday,
you two are the biggest cultural snobs I've ever met."
"Giles, handsome man that one. Pity he left, brought some
decorum to yo…"
"So Dawn, ready to go save Buffy's neck?"
"Oh yhea, I am never going to let her live it down either. Rescued
by the perennial victim. Just one question, what do these runes
on our blades means anyway?"
"Er, it's kind of an ancient oath of loyalty the original bondmates
took. We keep it there more out of tradition then anything else,
the empire it refers to fell generations ago."
"You know Xander, she sounds just like Giles when he's trying to
avoid an embarrassing question."
"Oh all right. It says, and I stress this is a loose translation:
By Flesh and Steel
By Blood and Bone
My Honor, My Life
For the Crimson Throne."
"That is so…"
"Wretched, yes I know. They were a nation of warriors not poets.
It does sound a little less ridiculous in the original tongue."
`Really?"
"No, not really. Bad doggerel is bad doggerel."
"Right. Ready to go then. So, how do I use these cool powers of
mine anyway?"
"It is all a matter of will. Desire that you and your bondmate be
taken to where your sister is captive and it will be so. Keep a
focused mind and there should be no trouble at all."
"If I can move people and stuff around by willing it could I say
move a new DVD system to my room?"
"I suppose so. Frea would often retrieve lost or stolen go…"
"This is so cool, soon as we save the world I am going shopping
like you would not believe. I might even get you guys something,
what do you get for a talking sword exactly?"
"You can loot the mall later Dawnie, now we have to go do the
hero thing. Any last minute tips Gwen?"
"Watch yourselves. Buffy needs a live friend not a dead hero."
Xander nodded at her image and looked to Dawn.
"Let's go do the calvary thing Dawnster."
She grasped his hands as well as a phantasm could and
together they concentrated on the image of the girl who meant so
much to them. Friend, sister, confidant, hero and love.
An instant in time and they were elsewhere.

…….

"What would you know about coming back from the dead? I
though you guys were all into this reincarnation biz""
"Normally that is the case. The priests used to say that souls so
tainted with blood were forever bared from the afterlife. I believe
them. I lived and died then returned many times never
questioning the life I lead. Until one lifetime where all the
bloodshed was more than I could take. I swore off violence, led a
long and moral life, married, grew old and in time died a
peaceful death. That was the only time I have ever died in bed."
"Is there a point or are you just trying to cheer me up by talking
about your death?"
"After that death I did not return. Instead I found myself in what I
presume to be the afterlife. What you would call heaven, No pain
or suffering, just bliss. It drove me nuts. The first few years were
fun but it gets kind of dull after awhile so I broke out and came
back to the cycle of rebirth. Ever sense I've been careful to keep
my hands bloody."
"So you just walked out of heaven?"
"More like ran but yes."
"Why?"
Against her will Buffy found herself needing to know more. Much
as she tired to push it down and get on with life the lingering feel
of loss hadn't left her. Why would anyone give up that feeling of
peace?
"It was like a drug Buffy, the hurt was gone but it wasn't really life.
Take away pain and you lose what gives life it's real joy. With
nothing bad there can be nothing truly good. I could inject
something into my veins if I wanted that kind of a feeling. There
was no need to stay in some false paradise for it. Besides, I
missed my friends. No point in eternal bliss if you have to do it
alone."
Maybe he had a point. Maybe he was just trying to mess with her.
Something to think about latter. Now she had to focus on figuring
this guy out so she could take him down.
"What's with you being all friendly? `Buffy' instead of `Slayer'?"
"I realize you don't believe me yet but we are friends Buffy. The
person you truly are and I have been together for a very long
time?"
"You think I'm your long lost girlfriend? Now that is just pathetic."
"Sadly, no. She is the soulmate of my commander and was so
long before we met. Whatever feeling I may have for her are
mostly irrelevant. Still, I have all eternity and if I must wait that
long for a chance with her then wait I shall."
For almost half a second Buffy actually felt sorry for him. It didn't
last.
"Soulmates? What exactly does an immortal serial killer know
about soulmates?"
"More than you girl. Your kin use that term so easy, as if those
breeders truly understood what can bind two souls. If those
things saw the truth they would be struck dead with awe. I have
witnessed love last over a thousand years and a dozen lifetimes.
Life may end but love, true love, is eternal."
"Keep the day job boy, you're no poet."
"Lucky for us both then the boss will soon arrive. Then you can
see things a bit diff…What is it?"
Over Keln's shoulder Buffy could see someone new leaning
against the doorway. Her first thought was vampire, he certainly
had that feral look about him, but he was human. Or as close to
human as Reavers got.
"Company."
"Take care of it then."
"I think you will want to handle this personally."
"I'm busy."
"Get over your fixation for a second and look around. Your favorite
sparring partner is here. For a guy who brags about being so in
tune with the world you sure can be dense."
Keln starred off into space for a second then broke into a very
unpleasant smile.
"Marek. I was wondering when he would show up, Can't see
how I missed his aura the first time, boy must be getting tricky.
Watch her, I will deal with him."
Standing up and retrieving his cloak and blades Keln made for
the door.
"An evening for surprises it appears. Your boyfriend decided to
come after us."
"Xander? He is not my boy…don't you even think of hurting him."
"I have a soft spot for unrequited love but somehow I doubt he
will leave me any choice."
Love?
The confusion must have shown on her face as Keln answered
her unasked question.
"Empath remember? I could feel the emotion poring off him
during his abortive attempt to play hero. Pity it only conquers all
in children's stories."
"You hurt Xander and I'll make you beg for death."
"Scary. Don't let her leave and don't even think about harming
her."
"Who me? I may have the urge for a fight but you think I'd be
dumb enough to cross the commander's woman?"
"Given your history? Yes."
"I'm wounded. Good luck with Marek, don't screw it up."
"Against him? None needed."
"See, now I am going to be civil and not bring up all the times he
has cut you in two."
"Thanks for the support. Careful with the Slayer, even
un-awakened she's deadly."
With a melodramatic sweep of the cloak that Angel would have
found overdone Keln strode off ignoring the deadly glare from
Buffy. Dead. He was dead meat.
"So Slay-er, I'll be down the hall if you were planning on trying
something. Not that you would, right Slay-er?"
"Right. Work on that lisp will you?"
"Well, see you around then."
He ambled off casually leaving Buffy alone. Ok, time to start the
great escape.
Her first attempt at standing didn't go so well. The next three
didn't work either. Ok, standing was out. Let's try crawling. One
hand in front of the other girl, just ignore the weight and move.
Buffy got about halfway to the door before the gravitational
pressure started turning into pain. She kept going. Another two
feet and she was down to crawling on her belly. That's it, Buffy
the snake is making a break for it. Then it was pulling herself
along by her fingernails. Less than two feet to go. It felt like a
piano was crushing her but Buffy kept on going. She was not the
type who gave up. She laughed at pain, or at least sneered at it.
One foot. Almost. Her fingers would hurt for week and her nails
were shot. Oh well, price of being a Slayer. Inches. One more
pull. Just a roll over the threshold and…there. She was free. No
more weight. Those guys were about to get smacked so hard.

Buffy pulled herself up, ignoring the aches in every joint. Ah hell,
her outfit was wrecked. Xander had bought this for her. Rags
after only one evening, that had to be a new record. Xander,
damn she had to save his idiot butt before he got himself killed
trying to be a hero. Stupid. What kind of a dumb-ass charges into
a house full of killers. One in love? Shut up. Later. Think about
that later. Ignore the fact that you keep telling yourself the same
damn thing. Now go save him.

Buffy took off running.

….

Elsewhere turned out to be the lobby of huge mansion. It looked
huge from where Xander was standing at least. A grand
staircase swept up in front of him complete with red velvet
carpeting. Lots of white, pillars and high arching ceiling. Fancy.
The picture windows were open letting in a splendid view of the
city below.
"Nice place. Any idea where we are Xander?"
"I'd say near LA."
"How come?"
"The smell."
"Oh. You know I'm beginning to see one of the downsides of this
ghost-girl thing. No sense of smell. That means no sense of
taste, Damn, I can't sneak into the chocolate shop."
"Dawnie, we pull this off and I buy you enough chocolate to fill the
Hellmouth."
"Your plans to fatten me up are not going un-noticed Xander,
what is up with that? Buffy is the anorexic one in family."
"What can I say,I like my women with curves. You ready to go get
Buffy?"
"No, but we can't let that stop us."
"So where is she?"
"What, your eternal lust for her doesn't give you a radar to track
Buffy down?"
"You're the super-power girl here, I'm just the slob along for the
ride."
"Put all the pressure on me why don't you. Ok, let me try and
concentrate. Umm…Umm…I am one with the universe…I
am…wait, I found her. She's up the stairs."
"Sure?"
"That or another skinny blonde with bad taste in men."
"Close enough. Let's go get her before whoever lives here gets
home."
Xander started to run towards the stairs but pulled up short when
the twin sword wielding creep rose out of the shadows right in
front of him.
"Marek. Long time. Leave you sense of fashion in your last
body?"
"Hi yourself. My name's not Marek. It's Xander."
"Ah, having a bad incarnation this time out. Don't worry, I'll put an
end to it."
"Feel free to try."
"Not backing down. Good boy. Let us do this right then. I am
Keln, blade of the Chaos born and your executioner. "
"I don't care what sort of Chaos guy you are, but I am going to
take Buffy out of here. Don't try and stop me."
"I kind of have to. Even if I didn't, well we do have this running
duel going. Last count I'm up six to five. Guess now I can make it
seven. Shall we begin?"
In a single motion Keln drew both blades and lunged at Xander.
So much for avoiding trouble. Time to fight or die and Xander had
no intention of dying. Not while Buffy was in danger.

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Replies:

[> Re: Bonded (Chapter 6) -- Glory, 15:24:59 07/16/02 Tue [1]

Harley Quinn wanted me to tell you that she read the story but won't get to write a review until later this evening. So be patient, dammit!

By the way, I LOVE where the story is going, Andrew!


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[> Bonded (Chapter 6) Review -- Glory...I mean, Harley Quinn!, 18:01:21 07/17/02 Wed [1]

Hmm...not much ti say that I haven't already said before, and while that might sound disappointing to a person looking for feedback, I do want you to know that I mean it as a compliment.

I love what you've done with Dawn, and I really like Xander working with her. The dialogue continues to be spot-on. And I'm really enjoying the Marek/Keln/Buffy/reincarnation motif. it works!


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