Chapter Fourteen

When Buffy walked into Giles’ house the next afternoon they found Giles and Spike hunched over the morning paper.

“What’s going on guys?”

Spike rose from his seat. “You remember Mac talked about some new beastie that was dissecting things?”

Buffy gulped, knowing that whatever he said next, it wouldn’t be good. “Yeah, I remember.”

“It got a little boy. Took him apart piece by piece.”

“Oh God.” Buffy could feel the blood draining from her face and she sunk down into a chair. “Why would it do that?”

“Research.”

Buffy looked at Giles in disgust. “What?”

“I don’t know why but whatever this creature is, it was definitely studying this boy’s anatomy. It was very precise. It seems to want to learn about the different creatures it comes across.”

“Well school is out,” Buffy said with a steely voice. “Tonight it dies.”

**********

“This is ridiculous,” Buffy snapped angrily. “How can no one know where this thing is hiding? It has to be somewhere.”

“We’ll find it. Don’t worry.”

“If it hurts anyone else I swear to God I’ll–”

Spike grabbed Buffy’s arm and she jerked to a halt, stopping mid-sentence.

“Soldiers up ahead,” Spike said quietly.

Buffy paused for a moment before saying. “Good.”

Raising an eyebrow Spike stared at her in surprise. “Good?”

“Yeah. Maybe they know something about this creature.” Turning to Spike she told him firmly, “I’m going to go talk to them. Stay here out of sight. I’ll come back for you when I’m done.”

Spike shook his head vehemently. “Yeah right. Cause I’m just your obedient puppy. I’m not letting you face them alone.”

Smiling sweetly Buffy cupped his cheek in her hand. “And what would you do if they pulled something?”

Gritting his teeth Spike growled in frustration. “I’d think of something,” he declared. “I won’t let you go alone.”

“Well well.” The mocking sound of Riley’s voice interrupted them. “It’s the so-called Slayer and her demon lover.”

Buffy and Spike faced Riley as his men spread out around them, and Buffy cursed when she realised the decision had been taken out of their hands. “Hello Riley.”

Brandishing his gun in front of him Riley smiled smugly. “And here I thought you were avoiding me.”

“We were,” Buffy agreed easily. “You’re only seeing us now because we choose to let you.”

Snorting, Riley asked, “So what do you want?”

“A creature. Not demon, not human. It dissected a kid last night. I want it dead. If you have any information on it I would like that information now.”

Riley’s gaze wavered and Buffy knew she’d hit pay dirt. He knew something.

“That boy was just seven years old Riley. I need to stop it before it hurts anyone else.”

Seeming to come to a decision Riley dropped his aggressive stance and sighed heavily. “We’re after him too alright?”

Buffy’s eyes lit up. “You said him.”

Riley nodded. “His name is Adam. He’s some kind of human-demon hybrid. He’s powered by a uranium cell in his chest. He’s strong Buffy, and smart. He has the strength and defence mechanisms of ten demons.”

“Ohhh this is just perfect…you bastard,” Spike suddenly spoke from behind Buffy.

Turning around she sent him a questioning frown but he was still glaring at Riley.

“You built him didn’t you,” Spike said accusingly. “A hybrid with the defences of ten demons. That’s what you said.”

“Ugh.” Buffy cringed in disgust as she realised what Spike was implying. “You made him from parts?”

“He’s a failed experiment created by a rogue scientist without permission,” Riley said in his own defence. “We didn’t know this was happening.”

“And that’s supposed to make it okay? Do you still think you’re doing the right thing? That all these experiments on demons are for the betterment of mankind?” Buffy asked him incredulously. “Doesn’t this make you wonder what else is going on down there?”

“I am the only one of my kind.”

All heads turned at the deep voice that came out of the darkness. When Adam stepped from the shadows Buffy shuddered in revulsion. She’d never seen anything like him. Looking at his mostly human face she couldn’t help but wonder who he had been. The man whose body had been desecrated for this. She hoped his family never found out what became of his remains.

“It seems to be a common flaw among intelligent creatures,” Adam commented with interest. “This fighting among yourselves, even while working toward a common goal.”

“What is your goal?” Buffy asked, hoping to learn more about what Adam was trying to accomplish.

“To understand,” he replied.

“Understand what? You think cutting up little kids is going to tell you the secrets of life?” Buffy felt Spike’s hand close around her arm in warning and she took a deep breath, trying to calm the anger inside her.

“It is the instinct of every intelligent being to wonder about its origin. The boy was simply a piece of the puzzle, no more.”

Rage filled Buffy at his complete dismissal of the life he had taken and she attacked, with Spike right behind her. Suddenly chaos reigned as Riley barked orders at his men, determined to be ready when they had a clear shot at Adam.

Adam easily deflected Buffy’s blows. Lifting her as if she weighted nothing, he threw her bodily into Spike, sending them both crashing to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Turning, he then disappeared into the night as quietly as he had appeared.

“Quickly!” Riley snapped. “We have to take him down tonight.” The soldiers ran off after Adam, the sound of pounding feet quickly fading as they departed.

Finding that he and Buffy were now alone again he looked down at the unconscious slayer with concern. He quickly felt along her limbs, finding no broken bones. Sighing in relief, he lifted her from the ground and carried her in the direction of Giles’ house.

“Don’t worry love,” he muttered. “I’ll take care of you.”