Prologue: Code Eight

The slayer skidded to a stop beside the tree. She tried to slow her breathing, and strained to hear everything that was going on around her. She heard the wind whistle through the few remaining leaves on the trees around her. They had somehow miraculously stayed on through the season. Some rustling, caused by foraging animals could be heard around her. In the distance, the gurgling of the creek could be made out. Nothing else though. At least nothing intelligible that she could make out.

Her breath fogged in the air as she heard a couple of birds fly through the air, likely looking for food as well. She leaned against the tree, feeling the cool rough bark of the tall, thick brown trunk. She peered around it carefully, not wanting to show herself too soon. She didn't see much moving through the thickly forested area in front of her however. No animals in view anymore. Even camouflaged, it was unlikely they would have missed her watchful gaze.

After a moment, a small shape streaked through the dirt in front of her, moving off deeper into the brush to her right. Less keen eyes than hers would have missed the red fox with a field rat in its mouth rushing by. It was likely a male out hunting for food. Probably he was now bringing it back to its den and probable mate and a couple of cubs. She felt something of a connection for the beast for she was hunting herself.

A scratching, like that of thick skin brushing past dry branches caught her attention to the left. Her dark eyes locked on the location, tracking the smallest amount of movement that was the only evidence she could see of her prey. She could the faintest black shape move into the trees in that direction.

She moved forward, careful to avoid touching any of the larger branches that would likely snap at her passing. She wouldn't make the same mistake as her prey. The makeshift path that she followed ended at the edge of the creek. It was rather narrow in the winter, but not frozen over. It smelled clean.

The slayer saw small tracks in the mud along the edge of the creek, leading into the water. She moved forward carefully, making sure that nothing was coming up behind her or attempting to flank her. She knelt down and looked at the deep tracks in the mud, not bothering to touch them. Deep indentations in the front showed that the creature she was looking for had large claws and was heavy. The parallel nature indicated that it was bipedal with the stride indicating a short stature. The displacement of the mud suggested that the target had been running. She was getting close.

The slayer got up and looked down the creek in both directions. She couldn't see anything out of the ordinary, so just moved towards the right, following her instincts.

As she passed a few trees that had grown close to the edge of the water, she saw a shadow pass before the ground in front of her. Her instincts had chosen correctly. It was too late however.

The shape landed on her back grabbing hold, struggling to maintain its hold on its prey. The slayer on the other hand, tried to buck the figure off of her back. It didn't work though. The dark, thickly armored figure stayed on her, driving her to the ground. A rasping sound, like a laugh echoed around her as she tried to get free.

The slayer fell to her knees, but tried once more to displace the figure that had her in a tight hold. She managed to pull its legs under her arm, utilizing her enhanced strength to get the figure in front of her. She managed to get a grip on the dark figure's sides, holding it down. The thick hide of the thing seemed thinner there.

"Had enough?" The slayer said, keeping the figure steady, despite it's squirming. She straightened her arms and moved her upper torso back to avoid the creature's flailing arms. Claws tipped its hands as well.

"No." The creature tried to squirm out of the slayer's tight grip. Unfortunately, even its slick, scaled skin wasn't slippery enough to slip out of her grasp.

"No?" The slayer repeated. She bent a little closer, still careful of its arms. "How about now?"

She started tickling. The figure started to squirm even more, a rasping laugh emanating from its wide, sharply toothed mouth. The creature shook its large head. It didn't last long though.

"No…no. I give up. I give up." The small fish man, or rather boy, tried to get the slayer to stop, but couldn't control his limbs. Still writhing, he grunted out, "you win. You win."

Dana giggled too. She stood up after a moment more, helping her "prey" to his feet. Abe tried to brush the mud off of his skin, to little avail. He'd have to get hosed down before he went inside. That was never fun. But, it was worth it.

He pouted. "No fair."

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Xander flipped the page on his book, looking up briefly to watch as Dana and her young friend ran around the field near the creek. He smiled as he watched them play. They didn't get that much time outside, especially in the winter. At least the two were making the most of it.

He was just glad that Dana was doing better. The drug treatment had had the desired effect. The slayer aspects of her psyche were mostly sorted out and integrated now. The biological and mystical confusion that had been created by her calling had been fixed. The rest of it was being handled through her routine sessions with Dr. Farmiga. It wasn't so simple as that, but it was a hell of a lot better than the treatment she had been getting in LA. Or what the Council would have been able to give her with their still lack of psychiatric personnel.

Even though the visits outside with her friend were somewhat doctor prescribed, a safe outlet for the hunterly nature of the slayer inside of her, it also did give her a chance to be free. If only for a little while, and within certain boundaries.

The sentry next to him shifted in his heavy coat as he watched the two play. He had been standing there for a couple of hours already. It was his turn on guard duty. The man didn't tell the others, but he rather looked forward to the assignment. A lot lighter than some of the other things that they were called on to do. And though none of the other regulars would admit it, they also did look upon the two as their own children. And doted upon like they were grandchildren.

Xander continued to read for a while, the sun still bright in the sky, despite the cool air. He heard someone come up to him, but kept his head down until he finished the page. He bent the top page corner down and closed the book. He set it beside him as he looked up.

Vi looked down at her boyfriend. She bent down to sit next to him. "What're you reading?"

He showed her the cover of the well-worn and flipped through hardcover textbook. Not one of his favorites, as if there was such a thing, but one of those subjects that he needed to keep on top of. It couldn't all just be physical training after all. Not many hunters had ever survived through so much as he had, even in the short time he had been operating. At least not simply by being able to hit harder or shoot straighter than most. Not alone at any rate.

"Forensic Pathology?" Vi cocked her head. She had a look of mild amusement on her face, and struggled to suppress the desire to laugh at the rather incongruous sight. The cool winter air made her cheeks and the tip of her nose slightly red. "A little light reading for the afternoon?"

"Its even got pictures. With color." Xander smirked. He shrugged and leaned in closer to his girlfriend. "It's like being back in school, just with words with more syllables. And more charts."

"Hard to imagine you as a student." Vi smiled back. It was odd seeing him engrossed in something like that despite the fact that she had seen it before. Of course, in her experience with the others in Ohio, only the scholarly types in the library tended to read that much. The rest just relied on what the watchers and wizards remembered or could pull up.

Dana and Abe ran closer to them, though more focused on what they were doing themselves.

"School of hard knocks I guess." Xander stood up. He held his hand out and helped Vi up. "You don't get to stay where I am by not keeping up on things. Not all of us get our thing out of the blue. We sometimes have to work for it. How're things?"

Vi accepted the hand, and stood up. She knew that his words weren't a dig at her personally. After all, she did train just as hard as any of the rest. Even now. She may have been given something of a gift, but she had worked to shape it. To make it hers. Being a slayer meant embracing it, not just assuming that it made her better than the things she fought. "Good. The new slayer seems to be working out pretty well."

"Really? That's good. Alistair's the only one on the team with significant field time in this thing," Xander stated, as he put his book back in his shoulder bag and slung it over his shoulder. The two of them started walking towards the building that housed their organization. He looked over and saw the young homo icthyus come out of the dry field with Dana. They walked towards him. The guard falling into step beside the pair. "They'll need the help."

Alistair Chadwick was an independent that had been recruited a while back. Sorcerer by trade; one that Cindy had some acquaintance with. The magical side to the new slayer's muscle. David Kilmartin, late of LAPD SWAT, was heading it up. A veteran now, what with what went down in LA the year or two before. Leander Smythe, Dominic Franklin, and the newly transferred MP Major Drake Childe filled out the rest of the team. Childe was one of those that had been kept on from Alaska.

The team hadn't been given a name, official or not, yet, and had no big missions to test them yet. But, the time was coming. As it always was.

"Is it always going to take this long to build up the other teams?" Vi asked, watching the child wander around. It was rather surreal seeing it. Would have even freaked her out if she hadn't led the life she'd led for the last year or so. "And wow, he's gotten really big."

"Lampkin wants to do it right. Especially if his goddaughter's going to be onboard. Pretty big surprise when he found that out. For her parents too." Xander looked at what had caught Vi's eye as he trailed off. "And yeah, Abe's getting pretty big. Apparently a holdover from some of the shark DNA he's got in him. Extreme growth rate. That's what Wesker says anyway. He's even talking already. Taken a real liking to Dana also."

"It's sweet," Vi said, as she took Xander by the hand. She kept her eye on the two still running around, chasing each other. "So why Abe?"

"Hmm?" Xander asked, as they walked down the path. "Why Abe what?"

"The name. Why Abe?" Vi asked again. "Does it mean anything?"

"Abe Sapien. The resident icthyo-man from Hellboy," Xander explained. He shrugged. "I figured it was appropriate. And, could prove a decent role model for him. You know, as opposed to the Creature from the Black Lagoon."

Vi shook her head. Leave it to him to geek out over the child's name. The slayer looked at him, somewhat shyly this time. "Do you…do you ever think about having kids?"

The government man hesitated for a moment. He looked over at her. "Honestly? Yeah, sometimes I do. Why? It seems like you're still a little young to be a mom. And, I definitely know your parents are way too young to be having grandkids."

The trip to Colorado had gone well enough. A real thanksgiving, the likes of which he hadn't had in well, ever. At least he didn't get syphilis this time.

Her parents were thankful for the obvious. Though had heavily intimated that he had best make sure that he took care of her. Like he needed the subtle threat. All in all, though it had been a mix of feelings for him, though given the distance he now had with his emotions, much of it was through observation. Like he was an objective observer to what was going on before Xander's life. There was obvious love and care. Even though Vi was still rather new to the familial unit, she was a part of it. Even he was added into it, given his intimate relationship with the family through their daughter. That was mixed with discomfort. Given his upbringing, it was mostly due to his unfamiliarity with such events. Even with Willow and Jesse, there hadn't been more than a friend level to things, especially as they got older.

Belonging to a family. Not just being part of one. The requisite give and take. It was odd to him. Even now. After a year or so back. Like an old suit that hadn't been worn and one couldn't feel seated in. Growth in different directions making it feel awkward.

But, one look at the woman beside him, and he knew that it was worth the effort. A lot more effort than he had put into most things in his life. Even, unfortunately to think about, his relationship with Anya.

"I know," Vi said, squeezing his hand. Glad that he shared the notion of children. Of a future, with her. "It's just, after being raised with just a bunch of watchers and all, and then going home, I just, know that I want to have kids. Someday. To have a family."

"I can just imagine-" Xander broke off as his work phone rang. He let go of Vi's hand and pulled it out of his pocket, checking the number on the display set in the faceplate. He stopped walking when he saw who it was. He opened it and put it to his ear. "Hello, Detective Lockely. What can I do for you?"

Vi watched as he took the call. Whatever it was it seemed serious.

"Okay. Okay. Can you describe what it looks like? Color, skin texture, everything. Hmm. Right the database, that does make things easier. Okay, give me a minute." Xander took the cell phone away from his ear. "Vi, let me have your phone."

He took the phone from his girlfriend and then opened it, scrolling up through the phonebook until he had reached Cindy's entry. It only rang a few times before being answered. "Cindy, this is Xander. I need you to run a species check for me. Ready? Okay. What's the decomp rate on M'fashniks?"

He waited for the answer as the witch looked up the information on her computer. Or just pulled it from some book she had open. Too bad they didn't have the reference texts that Wolfram and Hart used. Luckily, it didn't take long. "Okay. Good, that'll work. I need you to get the team together. And, bring along a forensics team. Full CSI job. We need to Gil Grissom this thing. I'll fill you in on the details when I get back. Wait, Abby's still in Wisconsin right?"

Xander glanced over at his girlfriend. He spoke into the phone, "no it's okay, I'll think of something. Get the team together. We'll need to leave as soon as possible. Okay. Bye."

Xander closed the phone and tossed it back to Vi. He put the other one to his ear. "Okay. Cordon off the area; no one gets in or out. The body will last till I can get there. I have to get some people together, but we should be able to be there in, five hours. Just keep everyone away. If you get a chance, send me anything you have so far. I'll check it enroute. Call me back if you need to have something official to get the area cleared."

"What was that about?" Vi asked, as her boyfriend put the phone back in his pocket.

"Local contact back in the city," Xander explained, as he checked his watch. He saw that Dana and Abe were looking at him. He smiled at them as they walked up to him. He knelt down in front of the boy, looking him in the eyes. "I have to go to work. Chris will get you back, okay?"

Dana and Abe nodded and followed the sentry back to Level 6.

"A job?" Vi questioned.

"Yeah. Dead demon." Xander looked out for a second, lost in thought. "Out in the human world apparently. The good detective thought it alarming enough to ask for help on."

"And you need a slayer," Vi continued.

"Well, I wouldn't presume to order…" Xander trailed off, somewhat wondering how he was supposed to handle things. Her whole team had gone to New York with her, taking position as the resident special team to his broader mixed one. Still, after Paris, they had gotten a lot closer, especially with her now living with him. It wasn't that they weren't equals, but there would be a difference in rank out in the field. Different skill sets were excelled in by each of them, but that didn't mean that equality could necessarily occur. He didn't want to seem patronizing in any case. And, he was in charge and had to act like it. "Sara needs the field time after all."

"Of course I'll come." Vi pouted. Like he even had to ask. "And all orderly. Very in command of you. Very butch."

"Right. Funny." Xander started walking again. He thought about the short conversation he had just had over the phone. Not just the words, which gave him some idea of what lay before him. But, also the way the detective said it. Or didn't as the case may be. The tension was obvious. There was probably a lot that had happened beforehand that she hadn't let him in on. Given what seemed to be a rather stubborn nature, it wasn't surprising. Which meant that whatever this was, it was over even what she believed her limit to be, even after the opinion of her had risen with an appropriate unofficial communiqué from the Department of Homeland Security. That didn't bode well for any of them. "Look, this one, I don't know, I just get the feeling that this one seems serious. Apparently this demon got hit in an apartment building, and not a complete hole that is the usual abode. Neighbors seem to be all-human from what Kate says. This one doesn't seem to be the normal type of demon attack. Nor the normal type of, well, victim I guess."

"That why you want the full team?" Vi asked, as she watched Xander figure through things. Still something to be beheld. If only because of the sheer stream of conscious nature of it. Probably not that impressive to someone that had been well-trained to do it, but he had his own way of stumbling into the heart of things. Through empathy if nothing else.

"Better safe than sorry. Better having everyone there, even if we don't need them. It's not like we pay by the hour anyways." Xander shrugged. He looked towards the building that was just up the path. He could even see his office window from where he was standing. "Anyway, we should get going. Got to pack up."

They walked back to the headquarters, hand in hand, in silence.

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Author's Note: Well, the first part of it up. Hopefully it'll flow better than my first story. It'll be less regular in terms of updating though since the schedule was kicking my ass after a while. I want to update at least once a week, though even that probably won't be that stable until at least December.

Anyway, I hope you like it. Please review. Though, I guess there's not much up yet.

-Updated grammar 1/10/08 - thanks to RudyHenkel