Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
THE BIONIC PROJECT
Welcome to The Bionic Project. We hope you enjoy your visit.


You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
A Slayer No More (2006) - complete
Topic Started: Nov 14 2016, 10:48 PM (480 Views)
bionic4ever
Member Avatar
I TALK TOO MUCH! LOL!
[ * ]
(*** This story is the sequel to my crossover story, 'SLAYER'. While I try to write sequels with enough background to make sense – and be enjoyed – as stand-alones, here's a link if you've never seen it... and especially if you're a Buffy fan! **** SLAYER **** )

A Slayer No More (2006)

(As with the previous cross-over, for storyline purposes I've taken the liberty of sending Buffy back in time, putting her squarely into Steve and Jaime's era.)

Chapter One

Peggy Callahan's smile never wavered, but inside she'd switched to guard-dog mode. ''I'm sorry. You're... who?''

''Buffy Summers.''

''You don't have an appointment. What is your business with Mr. Goldman?

''I'm trying to find Jaime Sommers.''

''Oh - are you a relative?''

''No; different spelling. We worked together on a case last year.'' Buffy couldn't miss Callahan's raised eyebrow. She sighed. ''Jaime gave me her phone number, but I've been trying to reach her for a week, and it's been disconnected.''

Callahan wasn't about to volunteer information about Jaime - or anything else, for that matter - to a girl who appeared to be still in her teens. ''That hardly appears to be Mr. Goldman's problem or concern, Miss... uh... Buffy.''

''Look, this is really important.''

''I'm sorry, but Mr. Goldman doesn't have time for this, Buffy.'' At the moment, he was reading his morning newspaper with no appointments pending for the day, but Peggy-the-guard-dog wasn't about to share that, either.

''First of all,'' Buffy said, growing annoyed, ''I'd appreciate it if you didn't say my name like I was a little piece of cotton fluff. Second, I may never have met Mr. Goldman, but I'm sure he knows who I am. I helped Jaime and Steve solve the Vampire Killer case. Would you please tell him I'm here, and then he can decide whether or not to talk to me?''

Peggy realized that this extremely persistent little girl was not backing down. Reluctantly, she hit the intercom button.

''Yes?''

''Mr. Goldman, Buffy Summers is asking to see you. She doesn't have an appointment, and -''

''Buffy Summers? Oh - send her in, please.''

''Yes, Sir.''

Buffy smiled sweetly at the secretary, tossing a slightly impertinent ''thank you'' over her shoulder as she headed for the inner office.

Oscar rose to greet her, motioning to a chair. ''Please - sit down. Can I get you some coffee? A soda?''

''No, thank you.''

''So you're Buffy Summers,'' Oscar said in a friendly voice. She looked - outwardly - much younger than he'd imagined, but she carried herself with a maturity that was exceptionally rare for her age. ''Steve and Jaime had a lot of great things to say about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you.''

''Thank you, Sir. It's an honor to meet you, and I'm really sorry I didn't make an appointment.''

''Don't give it another thought. We'd have never stopped the Vampire Killer without your help. Now, what can I do for you?''

Buffy smiled and began to relax. ''I've been trying to reach Jaime, but her phone's been disconnected.''

''Oh?'' Oscar thought for a moment, then understood. ''That's right; Jaime gave you that number over a year ago. She and Steve got married last summer, so they've got a new number now.''

''They did? That's great!'' Buffy enthused. ''I kinda had a feeling... ''

''Well, Young Lady, as it turns out, your instinct and your luck are both excellent. Jaime happens to be in the building right now.'' He picked up the inter-office phone and dialed Rudy's extension. ''Rudy? Good morning! How's Jaime's physical looking? Wonderful! Listen, when she's done changing, could you send her up to my office? Thank you.'' Oscar hung up and returned Buffy's smile with one of his own. ''She'll be up in a few minutes.''

Twenty minutes later, Jaime and Buffy were happily catching up over coffee, in a quiet corner booth at the diner down the street. Buffy wanted to hear every detail about the wedding and married life, and Jaime was getting more and more curious as to what was remaining unsaid.

''So,'' she finally ventured, ''why are you really here? 'Cause I know you didn't come all the way across the country just to catch up.''

''You're right; I didn't,'' Buffy said quietly. ''Jaime, I quit slaying.''

''I didn't think they allowed that.''

''Well, they don't, exactly. But there's another Slayer now, so I didn't leave them unprotected... ''

''But... I thought there was only one Slayer?''

''Yeah... but I died.''

''You don't look dead.''

''Long story,'' Buffy said with a shrug.

''Angel didn't vamp you, did he?''

''Sire,'' Buffy corrected. ''No, nothing like that.''

''So what does a retired Slayer do with her time?''

Buffy hesitated. Did she dare... ? She did. ''That's why I'm here, what I wanted to talk to you about. I wanna do what you and Steve do. I wanna become an operative.'' When Jaime didn't answer right away, Buffy kept talking. ''I know I'd be good at it, Jaime, and physically, you know what I can do... ''

Jaime smiled reassuringly. Buffy was practically just a kid, but this kid was good - really good. They'd never have caught the Vampire Killer without her help. She was intelligent and street-smart, and physically, she seemed just a step below bionics in her abilities. But...

''Buffy, if it were up to me, I'd love to have you. But operatives have to be at least 21, and usually Oscar won't take them 'til they're 25.'' And yet, Jaime knew that she'd love to work with Buffy as a partner; she'd have absolutely no worries about the young girl's ability to watch her back. Jaime thought for a few seconds. ''You know, maybe some rules can be bent, just a little. I can't promise you anything, but... I'll talk to Oscar.''

* * * * *

Chapter Two

''It is absolutely out of the question, Jaime, and you know that as well as I do!'' Oscar proclaimed, pacing across his office.

''Why?''

''No reason... aside from the fact that she's eighteen years old.''

''Nineteen in two weeks.''

''Which still leaves her shy at least two years - at least!'' he argued.

''Oscar, you could get them to make an exception -''

''No, Jaime.''

''This girl is smart as a whip. She's got connections and more street-smarts than most of the people you've got working for you now.'' Jaime quick-stepped to stand in front of Oscar, stopping him from pacing and forcing him to look directly at her. ''And physically... Oscar, physically, she can keep up with Steve and me! If you didn't know better, you'd swear she was bionic! Tell me that wouldn't be useful.''

''Jaime -''

''Can't you at least give her a shot? Let me work with her. One case, and -''

''Jaime -''

''The NSB would take her in a heartbeat... '' Jaime taunted. ''But you'd be missing out on a real find. Just give her a try - please? She could be another 'me' for you.''

''Which is precisely what I'm worried about.''

''Please?''

''Tell you what; we'll have her take the aptitude tests, I'll check out her background and Rudy can give her a physical. Then - we'll see.''

Jaime gave her boss an exuberant hug. ''Thank you!''

''We'll see... ''

* * *

Steve smiled as he shook his head. ''Sweetheart, are you sure you know what you're doing?'' he asked his wife. ''Buffy's just a kid... ''

''She's a kid who just scored a 96 on her aptitude test. What did you get when you took it?''

Steve chose to ignore that question. ''So she'd be good at it... in five or six years.''

Jaime sighed. ''You worked with her; you know what she can do. Please tell me you'll at least have an open mind?''

''Sweetheart, I love you, and I trust your judgment. That's probably all I should say for now... ''

* * *

The next morning, Jaime was in a state of nervous excitement and Steve and Oscar were dubious as they all sat in Oscar's office, waiting for Buffy and Rudy to join them.

''This is a serious assignment, Jaime,'' Oscar told her, ''life or death -''

''Aren't they all?''

''Are you sure you feel comfortable -''

''Yes!''

Steve frowned. ''Whose life or death?''

''Both of you,'' Oscar said quietly.

Steve had plenty more questions, but the office door opened and Buffy bounced jubilantly in, followed by a grinning Rudy.

''Are you sure she's not... '' he realized he couldn't use the word, since Buffy didn't have the clearance yet, ''... like the two of you?''

Jaime smiled triumphantly, saying nothing.

Oscar stood and extended a hand to Buffy. ''Ok, Young Lady - we'll give this a try and see how it goes. Welcome.''

''Thank you,'' Buffy said, suddenly uncharacteristically shy.

Rudy slipped quietly out of the room as the rest of the group got down to business.

''I'd intended to give you a throwaway mission - busy work, so to speak - for you to get your feet wet, Buffy,'' Oscar said, speaking to the entire group of three. ''Something urgent has come up, though, and if you feel it might be too much, I'll expect you to tell me, and we'll find something else for you to do.''

''She'll be fine,'' Jaime interjected.

''You know that New Destiny's been after the two of you for quite some time. This morning, it was brought to my attention that they're no longer interested in capturing you and... everything that would entail.,'' Oscar began, carefully tip-toeing around the fact that New Destiny had hoped to get their hands on the rudiments of bionics. ''They've been looking for a hit man, and although our intel people were able to thwart those efforts twice, they're apparently still at it - determined to see you both dead.''

Buffy's eyes grew wide as she listened intently. Oscar continued his explanation. ''Steve, given your exceptionally strong eyesight, you will be the hit man they're looking for.''

''You want me to be the one to carry out a contract on myself?'' Steve asked.

''No. On Jaime.''

''I can't wait to hear the rest of this... '' Steve said softly.

''Buffy, since no one would ever peg you as OSI,'' Oscar told her, ''you'll be the go-between. You'll hover on the fringes of the group, not joining them, of course, but close enough that when the subject comes up - and it will - you will be able to suggest the perfect man for the job.''

''Ok,'' Buffy replied, already formulating half a dozen plans in her mind.

Steve shook his head. ''Oscar, tell me you're not asking me to aim a gun and take a shot at my wife... ''

''Actually, Pal, you're going to do more than that; you're going to kill her.''

* * * * *
* * * * *

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

* * * * *
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bionika
Member Avatar
International Goodwill Ambassador
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Wow, that's very mysterious. I wonder which plan Oscar has in head???? huh?!??

Bionika
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bionic4ever
Member Avatar
I TALK TOO MUCH! LOL!
[ * ]
Chapter Three

''Question?'' Buffy asked. ''New Destiny - they're criminals, right? So why would they have to hire an assassin? Wouldn't they...um...use someone from within?''

''That's a very good question,'' Oscar told her. ''And yes, normally they'd have a whole team to handle that, but Jaime and Steve have already put most of their associates behind bars.''

''Which is why they're out for revenge,'' Buffy deduced.

''Right.''

''What do they do, exactly?''

''They front as a medical research team,'' Jaime answered, ''but the only thing they research is government secrets, any way they can get their hands on them. Then they sell them to the highest bidder.''

Buffy looked up at Oscar again. ''And they wanted Jaime and Steve for all the stuff they know - for the secrets in their heads.'' She didn't notice husband and wife exchanging a glance, as if to say That's enough of an explanation for now.

Oscar smiled broadly. ''I like you, Buffy. You're a quick thinker. And yes, you're right.'' He looked over at 'his' bionic duo. ''Steve, you'll need to see the handlers, to change your appearance enough that they won't recognize you. And to answer your unspoken question, yes - you'll be firing a real gun, with real bullets, because of course they'll want to check that. We'll put Jaime in one of our strongest bullet-proof vests, and we'll fake her death. By the time they figure it all out, we'll have every last one of them in custody: case closed, for good.''

Jaime and Buffy sat by the Tranquility Fountain, going over details, until they saw Steve leave the building. Even his own wife barely recognized him. His skin was darker and his hair - shorter now - was nearly white. They watched him go, then Buffy closed the photo file she'd been studying. She fingered they keys to the little blue sports car she'd been issued from the motor pool.

''I'm ready,'' she told Jaime. ''Time to rock.'' She, too, was soon gone, and Jaime headed back into the building to talk to Oscar.

The bright blue sports car screeched to a fancy, skidding stop just outside the heavy, chain link fence that surrounded New Destiny's current (scaled down) compound. Buffy could feel the guards eyeing her as she stepped v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y from the car, one bare leg at a time. Clad in denim shorts, a tank top and an air of supreme confidence, she approached the front gate. Two good ol' boys, newly imported from Texas, strolled out to meet her.

''Well, hel-lo there, Missy,'' the older one drawled. ''Just who might you be?''

''Why, I'm Caitlyn, of course, Roger,'' Buffy said in her own version of a soft, Southern accent. Roger and his co-hort had no name tags to identify them, but Buffy had done her homework well. She turned to the younger man, in his late 20's, not too bad on the eyes, and smiled her brightest smile. ''Bobby, honey, didn't Susanna tell ya I was comin'?'' she asked, naming the man's younger sister.

''Haven't talked to Susy in weeks,'' Bobby twanged. ''I'm sure I'd remember mention of a pretty li'l thang like you.'' He wanted to do his job, but he really wantedCaitlyn.

''She thought we just might get along like corn dogs and catsup, so she sent me to meet y'all.''

Bobby reached up to open the gate, but Roger grabbed his arm. ''Call your sister first, just to be sure.''

''So, what'd you think?'' Jaime asked, sinking into a chair.

''Of Buffy?''

Jaime rolled her eyes. ''No, Oscar - of our new trade agreement with the Soviets.''

''Well, I always liked the old one better,'' Oscar retorted, grinning at her. ''And I think Buffy will be just fine. By the way, Young Lady - most people would even think of talking to me like that.''

''And when have I ever been like 'most people'?''

''Got me there, I suppose. You went over New Destiny's details with her, right?''

''Yup. She won't need a lot of training. Most of the early stuff you taught me, about stealth, surveillance - stuff like that - she already knows from her...previous employment.''

''Vampires,'' Oscar noted, with just a touch of irony. ''Not such a big jump, I guess, from that to criminals.''

''I think someone has already tried to tell you that...''

''Just remember, Jaime - until she's been fully hired, Buffy has a level five security clearance, so -''

''No bionics; I know. She already saw me use them, that night in the graveyard, though, a couple of times. I think Steve may have intimidated her, though; she never said a word about it, then or now.''

That worried Oscar. ''She's...easily intimidated, then?''

''Oh no - not at all.''

''Good. Because you know how bad New Destiny can get.''

''Still see it in some of my worst nightmares.''

''We've gone ahead and covered some basics for her. The guard she'll be going after has a sister - Susanna - who's one of the reasons we know what we know. She didn't like the sound of what her brother might be getting into, so she contacted the FBI, who contacted us. While she won't lie directly to her brother and won't go in wearing a wire, she did agree to take a bit of an extended vacation, so if the brother decides to call her to try and confirm Buffy's cover, he'll get no answer. Hopefully, she and Steve can get the job done before he tries to check further than that.''

''What, exactly, do you want me to do?'' Jaime asked.

''When we're done here, you'll go down to see the handlers. They'll set up several different 'dead' pictures we can use, depending on the angle Steve takes his shot from.''

''Joy. Can I have a copy to frame?''

- - - - -

-
* * * * *

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

* * * * *
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bionika
Member Avatar
International Goodwill Ambassador
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
I cross my fingers that the plan will work.

Bionika
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bionic4ever
Member Avatar
I TALK TOO MUCH! LOL!
[ * ]
Chapter Four

Steve had only been gone a few hours, but Jaime missed him already. She knew she'd miss him even more when she tried to go to sleep without him by her side. Taking pictures of herself as a corpse had been a most unpleasant experience, though, and she doubted she'd be sleeping much anyway.

She'd been instructed to go about her activities as she normally would. Ha - define 'normal' when you have to wear a bullet-proof vest, she thought to herself. Jaime hated those things! They were bulky, uncomfortable and made her feel very nervous, as though she were wearing an open invitation for someone to shoot her in the head, since that portion of her body remained unprotected. She figured she'd put it on sometime the following evening - that was probably still a little early, since Buffy had to ingratiate herself first and then somehow get Steve 'hired', but better safe than dead. Tomorrow night would be more than enough time...

Bobby had gotten no answer when he'd tried to call his sister, but Caitlyn was just too tempting for him to pass up. Besides, if Susy really had sent her, Bobby didn't want to face his sister's wrath by sending her away. Less than an half an hour after she'd arrived at the compound, Buffy was inside the gate, having coffee in the guard shack while she waited for her moment.

The moment that came was much sooner than expected, and not the one they'd planned for, but she saw a chance and dove at it. Within the time it took for them each to finish a second cup of coffee, Bobby was firmly and inescapably wrapped around Caitlyn's little finger, ready to buck every bit of protocol and break all the rules as he offered to give her a guided tour of the compound.

"Ya know," Buffy ventured when they were nearly finished, "Susy said y'all were into researchin' medical-type stuff, but I didn't see anybody reading or looking up anythin'..."

"Well, maybe they're taking a break," Bobby hedged.

"My friend's brother - he makes his money shootin' people who don't belong on the planet - he said I should watch myself if I was comin' here, that y'all were into some mighty rough dealin's. You seem ok to me, though." Buffy could literally see the light going on in Bobby's head, but he wasn't quite hooked yet, and said nothing.

Buffy snaked an arm around his waist, and then her other arm, as well, looking right into his eyes. "Don't seem the least bit dangerous to me."

"That a fact?" Bobby smiled back at her and leaned in for a quick kiss.

For Jaime and Steve, she reminded herself, choking down her revulsion and kissing him back, but he goes no further!

"So how could a pretty li'l thing like you know anybody connected to a hit man?" Bobby inquired.

"Oh - Cliffie's not a hit man. He only kills people who really deserve it. Sure makes bunches of money doin' it, though..."

So it happened that, before midnight on her first day as an operative, Buffy had accomplished her goal, and 'Cliff' came into possession of a contract to kill Steve Austin and his wife.

New Destiny had stipulated that they expected immediate results, and had dropped 'Cliff' off outside of his own house before the sun came up the next morning. Steve wasn't surprised when they'd insisted on sending one of their own to accompany him. Together, the two men waited, hidden in the trees that lined the front driveway.

"My understanding is that these two are sort of joined at the hip," his new shadow told him. "Hopefully, they'll come out of the house together. That way, you can just open fire and be done with it. But if you can only get one for now, that's ok, too. Well get the other one at the hospital. Or the funeral."

Steve knew that Jaime would be out to get the newspaper within the next hour. Everything was ready. He wished he could whisper a warning, but with her vest, he knew she'd be ok. When Jaime stepped onto the porch, he raised the rifle to his shoulder, aimed extremely carefully at her mid-section and took his shot. Jaime had turned at the very last second, and her side was to Steve. She faked shock and horror very appropriately as she sank slowly to the ground. Damn, that fake blood looks awfully real, Steve thought to himself as he turned to hightail it out of there. He was alarmed to see the New Destiny crony heading toward Jaime, instead.

"We gotta get out of here," Steve urged. "Her husband's probably already called the cops."

"Yeah, I know; just wanna make sure she's dead." The man knelt down, checked Jaime for a pulse and then joined Steve on a fast sprint back to the car. Steve looked at him questioningly, and the man nodded in confirmation. "Dead as a doornail in the arctic winter."

- - - - -

-
* * * * *

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

* * * * *
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bionika
Member Avatar
International Goodwill Ambassador
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Bionics are really good things when it cames to check a pulse on right arm. :D
:o Imagine that Steve or Jaime had left the left arm...

Bionika
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bionika
Member Avatar
International Goodwill Ambassador
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
"Damn, that fake blood looks awfully real"

I hope it's really only fake blood.

Bionika
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bionika
Member Avatar
International Goodwill Ambassador
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
"the two men waited, hidden in the trees that lined the front driveway."

And they have no picture of Jaime and Steve???? it's like in episode "which one is Jaime?", villains are very unprofessionals!

Bionika
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bionic4ever
Member Avatar
I TALK TOO MUCH! LOL!
[ * ]
Chapter Five

Jaime felt the tell-tale burning pain - it seemed to go right through her - at the same instant she heard the shot. If she'd been standing still, it would've merely grazed her side with little damage done, but her half-spin at exactly the wrong moment sent the bullet careening into flesh. What the hell? was all she had time to think; she was unconscious before she hit the ground. She hadn't been alert enough to listen for Steve's approach since - in her mind - it was far too soon for anything to be happening. She'd planned to don the bullet-proof vest around dinnertime, but even then she wasn't expecting the attack until at least the morning of the second day. Now it was too late. She'd been hit and there was no one around to help her.

At the very last minute, as they were fleeing the scene, Steve remembered the required picture. He pulled the camera from his belt, turned around and snapped a few fake shots. He struggled against the overwhelming urge to run to Jaime's side, sweep her up in his arms and carry her to safety. Doing that would only get both of them killed.
When they returned to the compound, he gave the film to 'Caitlyn', who 'just happened to have a li'l old dark room' in her friend's basement. She was sent off to develop the photos.

For a reason he couldn't pinpoint, Steve was unable to shake the horrible, gut-wrenching fear that something was really wrong. He hadn't been expecting to be jumping for joy after firing a real, loaded gun at his wife, and she'd been given the ultimate protection available, so why was he so damned worried?

Buffy had the needed pictures already in her car, but she still had a couple of hours to fill. After shaking off her New Destiny tail (by driving the little sports car in a way he couldn't possibly duplicate), she found a phone booth and pulled over to call in a progress report. From what she'd been told about Oscar, she wasn't surprised that he was already in his office at 7:30am. She didn't realize he'd spent the night there.

Oscar was impressed - Buffy had carried out her assigned tasks superbly - but he was also deeply alarmed. If the 'hit' had been carried out, he should've heard from Jaime long before Buffy's call. Had something gone wrong? Had Steve aimed too high?

''What did Steve say when he came back?'' he asked Buffy, taking care to keep his voice even and calm.

''They didn't give us a chance to talk.''

''How did he look?''

''Grim. And sorta green, like he was sick to his stomach.'' Buffy replied. ''Is... something wrong?''

''I don't know.'' Oscar realized that to continue working the case effectively, Buffy needed the facts - all of them. ''I'd expected to hear from Jaime right away, before you or Steve checked in -''

''She hasn't called?'' Now Buffy, too, felt the cold stab of fear in the pit of her stomach.

''No. But if she was wearing her vest - and she better have been - I'm sure she's fine. Could be a problem with her phone. She can't leave to call from anywhere else; she has to stay completely out of sight now, until it's all over.''

''I'm going over there,'' Buffy said quickly.

''I don't think -''

''I'll sneak in from the back. No one'll see me.''

''Buffy -''

''I'll call as soon as I know more,'' she promised, hanging up.

Damn, Oscar thought. Steve was right. This one's just as independent, and stubborn, as Jaime!

Buffy was truly frightened as she moved swiftly and silently through the woods behind Steve and Jaime's house. It wasn't fear for her own safety, though. She was scared to death for her friends.

The rear screen door was unlocked and the solid door behind it was wide open. Buffy held her breath as she let herself in. The first thing she saw was Jaime's vest, draped over a kitchen chair. No nicks, holes, slashes or defects were visible anywhere on the garment. This was not a good sign.

''Jaime... ?'' Buffy called out softly, but there was no answer. She quickly ascertained that the house was deserted. When she saw the red splatters in the living room, she knew instantly that they hadn't come from any fake dye packets. Buffy had spent nearly four years among vampires and their prey. She knew blood when she saw it.

It was on the front door, just a little bit on the outside but a bigger splash on the inside, as though Jaime had made it through the door and closed it, but leaned (or fell) onto it for support. The cradle half of the telephone still sat on the little table beside the sofa, but Buffy had to follow the cord to find the receiver. It had gone under the table, out the other side and a short distance down the hall, in a position where it had obviously not been dropped or set down. It had been thrown there and, like the door and the sofa, there was blood on the receiver.

Buffy left the receiver where it was and placed a coaster sideways on the phone cradle to close the circuit, then used the phone in the kitchen to call Oscar.

She spilled all of it quickly, in a single breath, as soon as he picked up the phone. ''Mister Goldman, she wasn't wearing the vest and there's blood - not pools of it, but too much - on the porch, the door, the couch and the telephone, and Jaime isn't here; I looked everywhere.'' Finally, Buffy stopped talking and took a long, shuddering breath.

Oscar took a deep breath of his own, to steady himself. ''Buffy, I do NOT want you to go back to the compound. Come to my office immediately. I'll send an extraction team in for Steve... and for Jaime, if she's there and still alive.''

- - - - -

-
* * * * *

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

* * * * *
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Bionika
Member Avatar
International Goodwill Ambassador
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
noooo

Bionika
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rudywells1274
Member Avatar
Security Level 12
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
You are cruel. Poor Steve
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rudywells1274
Member Avatar
Security Level 12
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Bionika
Nov 18 2016, 04:38 PM
I cross my fingers that the plan will work.

Bionika
Same here
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rudywells1274
Member Avatar
Security Level 12
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Bionika
Nov 20 2016, 04:22 PM
"Damn, that fake blood looks awfully real"

I hope it's really only fake blood.

Bionika
I'm with you
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Rudywells1274
Member Avatar
Security Level 12
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
This is not sounding good at all
Posted Image
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
bionic4ever
Member Avatar
I TALK TOO MUCH! LOL!
[ * ]
Chapter Six

Steve was pacing restlessly. ''I need to go after the husband now,'' he growled as 'Cliff'. ''If we wait much longer, he'll be too alert. I should be striking now, while he's still in shock over his dear, departed wife.''

''When it's time, you'll go,'' one of the cronies who'd been milling about the office said in reply.

''It's past time! When you hire a professional, you should let him do his job, Dammit! Let me finish my job!''

The boss who had originally 'hired' him strode into the office with a smug grin on his face. ''That's exactly our intention,'' he told 'Cliff'. ''Follow me, please, and bring your weapon.''

''Look,'' Steve argued, following the man out of the office, ''I'm perfectly capable of offing one grieving husband, all by myself. I don't need a baby-sitter to slow me down.''

''Maybe so,'' the leader said, ''but that's not where we're going.'' Three newly-hired, armed enforcers filled the hallway behind them. ''I expect you to finish the first job first.''

Uh-oh.The man headed down a long hallway, and Steve had no choice but to follow. They stopped in front of a small, dingy barred cell at the very end of the hall. Inside the cell, lying on the concrete floor, bloodied and unconscious, was Jaime.

The leader looked expectantly at his hit man. ''You got her, but not good enough. This time we made it easy for you. Go ahead - finish her off.''

Steve's mind raced through every possibility in less than a second, and none of them were acceptable. That second of hesitation was all the boss had needed to see.

''That's what I thought... Colonel.''

Steve tried to keep the ruse going. ''Excuse me?''

''When Frank said you only took one shot, instead of emptying the gun at her, I wondered -''

''One shot is all I usually need. More would be too risky, draw too much attention,'' Steve insisted.

''Don't even bother. I know who you are. You just confirmed it; a professional would've shot before I'd even told him to do it.'' He looked toward his new helpers. ''Put him in the cell with his wife. We'll take care of them later, after she's awake. I have some very special plans for Mrs. Austin, and I want her husband to hear her scream.''

Buffy knew Oscar would most likely fire her for insubordination, but she completely disregarded his order, made one quick stop and headed back toward New Destiny's compound. She would be going in as herself this time; 'Caitlyn' was useless to her now. Buffy intended to do whatever might be necessary to save her friends.

Steve sat on the concrete next to his wife's pale, unmoving form. He flinched at the sight of the bullet wound he'd inflicted. Jaime, why weren't you wearing your vest? It wasn't as bad as it could've been, hitting her in the lower left quadrant of her abdomen, but it was bad enough to flood his soul with guilt. She began to move, just slightly, and he thanked whatever luck they had remaining for the fact that New Destiny was still too short-handed (or short-sighted) to have posted a guard outside the cell. He took Jaime's left hand and leaned down close to her face.

''Jaime, if you can hear me, don't open your eyes. Squeeze my hand, Sweetheart.'' He waited a few seconds. Her eyelids fluttered but stayed closed, and Steve felt a weak but very welcome squeeze from her hand. ''Ok, good,'' he said soothingly. ''We're ok - for now - if they don't think you're awake. You need to stay unconscious until I can figure a way out of here, ok?'' Another squeeze. ''I love you,'' he whispered, gently kissing her forehead. Then one more thought occurred to him. ''Jaime, if you hear anything you think I should be alert for, roll over and kick me, and... if you hear Buffy coming back, swing an arm out and hit me. Ok?''

Jaime frowned, puzzled and frightened, then returned her face to its relaxed, 'unconscious' state and softly squeezed Steve's hand.

Buffy knew she didn't have much time. She moved with quiet urgency to the back of the compound and jumped the fence. She'd been issued a gun at the beginning of the mission, but she'd left that in the car, unsure of her ability to use it. Her one quick stop had been to pick up a weapon she was much more proficient with, and it was the reason she now remained in the shadows and dark corners of the complex as she formulated a final plan. In her hands, Buffy carried a very large, deadly-sharp sword.

- - - - -

-
* * * * *

Posted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted ImagePosted Image

* * * * *
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
ZetaBoards - Free Forum Hosting
Create your own social network with a free forum.
Learn More · Sign-up for Free
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · Fan Fiction - General Topics · Next Topic »
Add Reply

Play Trivia and Quizzes at FunTrivia.com

Skin Created by Xarina of Rapture & Zathyus Networks Resources.
This theme is best viewed in firefox.