Captain Cardboard

------------------------------------------
Oz felt like he'd gone through a wringer. His Mom was furious over his apparent disappearance. The only reason she'd not filed a missing persons report was the Devon told her that Oz had left to find some gigs and would be back. Telling her that yes, there were no phones in the middle of the Amazon jungle would not have helped, so all he could say was sorry and he wouldn't let it happen again.

Devon and the guys were just as bad. They'd felt betrayed. After the third month without Oz, they'd found a replacement. They insisted he was better then Oz anyway, so don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.

Krieg had once told Oz, "Garou make for great fighters, great lovers, and lousy mates. Both the romantic and friendship kind. Few manage to have any sort of relationships outside of the pack that last more than a few months. There are many reasons for this - duty, danger, the pack. As warriors for Gaia, werewolves feel a higher purpose. Somehow hanging with the boys and chasing chicks does not fit into that."

"Like police and firefighters, Garou face death on the line of duty every day, except that dangers for the Garou are much greater, the stresses on a Garou's outside relationships that much larger. Garou fight in packs, saving each other's lives, teaching one another, performing rituals, uncovering mysteries. The bond that is created amongst the pack is one that no outside relationship can truly intrude on."

And that summed it up. He felt regret at loosing the friendship of his now former band mates, but now he had his Pack. And a higher purpose.

That higher purpose intruded on him now. The Sun had just set. He was riding the bike towards Revello Drive, when he spotted someone familiar. Spike, heading into the wooded area near UC Sunnydale. Oz found a place to park the bike and followed him. As soon as Oz hit the woods, he transformed into his full-wolf lupus form, he was more stealthy that way.

-----------------------------

Spike was in a quandary. The Demon/Cyborg Adam had made him an offer. Join him and he'd remove the chip in his head. At first he said yes. He'd help Adam destroy the Slayer, open the Hellmouth and take the first steps towards Demon rule of the planet. The problem was that Spike had also discovered that what Adam meant by demon rule was pretty much the annihilation of the human race.

"Sod that" thought Spike. "I like my Happy Meals the way they are thank you, all nice and warm, and alive. At least until I'm done with them." And open the Hellmouth? He'd teamed up with Buffy to stop Angelus from doing that for the very same reason. Spike realized shortly after the Master tried it, that if he'd succeeded, Spike would no longer be the Big Bad around town. Not that he was now with that bloody chip and all, but that could be fixed.

Of course if Adam would not remove it, then it was back to Captain Cardboard. Maybe he could trade info on Adam's whereabouts and his plans for removal of the Chip. Which was why Spike was heading towards the Initiatives installation, when he nearly ran Riley over.

Riley instantly brought his weapon up. "Freeze!"

"Now, now ducks, no need to fret about me remember?" Spike tapped his head "Chip in the old noggin."

Riley relaxed, slightly. "Hostile 17. What do you want."

Oz had heard most of the conversation with his extraordinary hearing. He circled around and made sure that he crept up on the pair down-wind from them, so Spike wouldn't be able to smell him. He hunkered down to avoid being spotted visually.

"The name's Spike soldier boy and I've come to make a deal. You take out this chip, I'll tell you what Adam's up to.

"The name's Agent Finn, demon scum, and why should I make a deal with you!"

"Because mate, while you boy scouts are sitting on your arses, Adam is making big plans for this burg, and gathering forces."

It was the "gathering forces" part that made Riley pause rather then just kill spike now. He didn't have time to ponder for long.

"We knew you were a traitor Spike." Two demons appeared, slightly to Oz's right. They'd not spotted him, but he cursed himself for not noticing their approach.

"Now you both die!" The demons leaped at both Spike and Riley. Riley began firing at one, but he was only packing a hand-gun, and the bullets didn't seem to phase the thing. It swatted the gun away and attacked. Spike was now in a wrestling match with the other, and loosing.

Oz took this moment to break from the woods, transforming into Crinos as he went. He attacked the demon that was on Riley from behind, renting huge gouges in its back with his claws. Screaming in pain, it turned to fight Oz. One-on-one, this demon was no match for a Crinos form Garou, and Oz made quick work of it. Riley just stood back out of the way.

When it went down, both Oz and Riley turned to the ongoing fight between Spike and his demon. Spike didn't seem to be doing so well. The thing hand him in a headlock and was pounding on him. Between punches, Spike managed to get out "A little help 'ere!"

Oz just shrugged and joined the fight, pulling the thing off of Spike and going at it tooth and claw. Riley went searching for a big enough branch to use as a club and help out. Neither noticed Spike slip way.

Oz and the demon were trading blows, when Oz managed to get a hold of its head, similar to the way it had Spike before. Oz however just got a good grip and broke its neck with a sickening snap. Oz was just drawing a breath to let go a victory Howl when his whole body was wracked with pain.

Two Initiative troopers, armed with their heavy-duty stun guns were both zapping Oz. Despite his Garou physiology, he fell to the ground, unconscious.

Taking their tactical masks off, Riley recognized Forrest and Graham.

"You're AWOL Agent Finn" Forrest addressed him angrily. "You were restricted to Quarters. Sneaking off to see that girl Buffy again huh?"

"Listen Forrest, what I do with Buffy is my business. And last time I checked, I outranked you."

"The new director restricted you to the base, I was sent to retrieve you. Look Riley, I'm trying to be your friend here. Ever since you met her, you've been acting strange. One more foul up and they are going to bust you."

They both stared at each other. Graham picked up his radio. "Unknown Hostile down, sector 2. Request retrieval team".

"Roger, sector 2. HST Retrieval team in route."

"Looking over at the unconscious Garou, Riley said "I'm not sure if this thing is hostile guys. It fought on MY side, not the demons."

"Not for us to decide Riley, you know that. It's not human, therefore it's hostile. End of story."

The retrieval team arrived moments later. The used heavy manacles to bind Oz's hands and feet, and then loaded him into the back of a van.

"You too Riley" said Forrest. "Into the van."

It looked like Riley was about to refuse, but he relented instead and walked to the van. Just before he entered, Graham stopped him. "Weapon?"

Looking at him with contempt, Riley handed Graham his pistol and then got inside the vehicle.

It was a short ride as they were so close to the Initiative's base. A gurney was brought up and Oz was loaded onto it. Forrest and Graham started to lead Riley towards the command section, but Riley stopped.

"I want to talk to the scientists about this one. Its behavior was strange. I think they need to know about it."

Riley could see Forrest's inner struggle. He needed to get Riley before their new commander, but if the scientists thought they were withholding info, there'd be hell to pay. "Alright, let's go."

As they approached the lab section, they could see Oz laid out on the gurney, unconscious. The scientists are jabbing needles into him. Some are putting fluids into him, others are taking blood out. Riley stepped up to one of them.

"Excuse me Doctor."

The man turned, his annoyance at being disturbed clear on his face. "Yes, what is it?"

"I wanted you to know that this creature behaved quite differently then others I've encountered. I was being attacked by two other HST's and this one jumped in to help."

"Help? I doubt that. I've seen these things fight each other. It just probably thought you were not a threat to…."

His voice faltered as before him and all the others in the room, Oz morphed back into his human form. That's when the light of recognition came on for Riley. "Oz?" he thought to himself.

The scientists broke out of their moment of astonishment and began examining Oz anew. They were all very excited, like kids with a new toy.

Riley noticed Oz begging to wake "He's coming to. Oz?"

Oz tried to focus on Riley, but he was still very groggy. The bright lights were disorienting him and he can't make out the face in front of him.

"He won't be able to talk for a while," the scientist tells Riley "we gave him Haldol to keep him quiet."

Riley started to get angry "Why? The guy's not a threat now."

"I will allow you to stay if you let us do our work, Agent Finn. Only Colonel McNamara can place a cease order on medical testing - and he's told us to proceed."

Riley, frustrated, steps back as a tray arrives with another injection on it and a charged taser.

Another scientist delivered the shot to Oz. "I've always suspected the stuff about werewolves' transformations being based on the lunar cycle was campfire talk." He took the taser and moved over to Oz.

Riley, realizing what's happening tried to stop him. "That's enough! This guy's a student. I know him!"

Now truly angered, the first scientist turned to a guard and said "Get him out of here."

Riley is reluctantly led out by two MPs. The second scientist shocked Oz with a taser. Oz cried out and went Crinos. Restrained by tight straps and heavy medication, Oz didn't have the power to break free.

Now, completely ignoring the fact that Riley was ever there, the two scientists started to compare notes "See that? Transformation related to negative stimulation..."

The MPs brought Riley to the cell block and after searching him first, they threw him in the brig.

-------------------------------------------

Faith had finally succumbed to sleep. Krieg picked her up and brought her upstairs to put her to bed. The conversation moved outdoors where Conn was once again at the grill cooking. Burgers this time. Everyone was starting to get a little worried. Riley was still not answering his beeper, and Oz had not yet arrived.

"Derrick, can you track Oz?" Hope asked.

"If he was wearing his Spider Fetish I could call him, but I've already tried. I know his mind well enough to contact him without it, and that's not working either. That can be explained by proximity to the Hellmouth. I can locate the bike though, hold on." Derrick brought up his plamtop.

Krieg stepped up to him. "Um Derrick, how can you trace MY bike?"

"Simple, Lo Jack. I installed them on all our vehicles for just such an emergency. Got it. It's parked by a wooded area outside UC Sunnydale."

"That's near the Initiative's underground complex" Buffy informed them. "Do you think he's in trouble?"

"I'd say he was Slayer." Everyone looked over to see Spike approach the group. Spike didn't expect the big guy with the apron to be on him in a split second, grabbing him by his throat with one hand and lifting him in the air. The other hand was transforming into Crinos, just his hand and arm, complete with 6 inch long claws.

"Wait Conn!" the Slayer shouted. "He's a vamp, but he's relatively harmless."

Conn glared at him, but set Spike back on the ground. With his hand still around his neck Conn told Spike "One step in the wrong direction Wyrm scum and I'll 'ave ye guts for garters!"

Derrick asked Willow "Is he the one with the Chip in his head?"

"Yup"

Derrick went back to his palmtop..

"What do you want Spike?" Buffy asked curtly.

"Take it easy Slayer. I want what I always want lately. Merry barrels full of cash in exchange for information."

"That depends on what you have to offer. And it better be good, I'm not in the mood for your games."

"Listen you silly bint I…Aaaaah!" Spike collapsed to his knees, holding his head.

"Cool!" exclaimed Derrick. "I've accessed the chip in his head. The programming is rather simple. I can activate it anytime I want."

Krieg grabbed Spike by the collar. "Listen leech. You either tell us what you came here for, or I give you back to the big guy, but not before I let the computer geek make mush out of your brain, got that?"

Clearly still in pain, Spike replies "Slayer, your taste in friends is becoming more, dangerous."

"Spill it Spike. Then we decide if you live."

"Right. Was on my way to see your Captain Cardboard when we both got jumped by a pair of Adam's demons."

Now it was Buffy's turn to grab Spike by the collar and lift him off the ground. "Where is he, is he alright? Tell me Spike or so help me…"

"Relax Slayer, if you kill me I can't answer your questions can I?"

"How do you know the demons were Adam's?" asked Giles.

"Cause I've been hanging with the Frankenstein wannabe last few days or so. Thought I'd throw in with him till I found out 'es another one of those "end the world" types. I like the world the way it is. I was going to spill to Buffy's Boy Scout when we got jumped. We were putting up a good fight when along came Little Red Riding Hood's wolf."

Willow gasped "Oz?"

"In the fur. Must say the boy has improved. Took out the demon on soldier-boy and then took mine away from me, just when I was getting the upper hand mind you. I slipped away, but turned back long enough to see two more of those bloody Initiative bastards hit the fur ball with those tasers of theirs. Took him down and carted him and soldier-boy away."

Both Conn and Krieg started to growl. Hope grabbed them both by the arm "Down boys, we'll get him back. Derrick, have you managed to tap into the place?"

"No, but I've not tried very hard. This is an Iteration X facility guys, they've got some tricks of their own. I didn't want to risk discovery until it was absolutely necessary."

Buffy stepped up in front of him. "It's necessary."

"Okay, but I need to go elsewhere, a place more secure." He looked knowingly at the pack.

The pack all looked at Spike, who suddenly felt like a piece of meat in a butchers display. "Now hold on mates…"

John looked at Conn, "Fessick, jog his memory."

Conn smiled, raised his fist and hammered Spike on top of the head. He collapsed in a heap. "I guess I jogged too 'ard!"

"Ooh, Princess Bride! I love that movie!" Willow said excitedly.

John smiled "So do we! Since we can't stake him, I suggest some chains. Know where we can get some?"

Buffy replied. "Yeah, in the basement, I'll be right back."

Looking at Xander, John asked "She keeps chains in the basement?"

"I know. The mental imagery can go lots of different ways."

Buffy returned with a large box that gave a heavy thud when she dropped it on the floor. "Have at it guys." John and Xander proceeded to secure Spike. While doing so, Derrick got up, and using his palmtop he opened a portal to the Garage in Seattle. "We'll stash him here for the time being. JYD can keep an eye on him."

"Um, where is here?" asked Giles.

"Our place in Seattle" said Derrick. "JYD is another Garou who watches the place for us. He'll like the chance to torment a Vampire."

When they were done, Xander and John dragged Spike through the portal. "Wow, you mean we just traveled over a thousand miles north?"

John smiled "Freaky ain't it?"

JYD came up, sniffed at both Xander and Spike. He growled at Spike. John filled him in and asked him to baby sit.

Buffy looked at the portal "Neat. Can you do that into the middle of the Initiative lab?"

"Probably not. They'll be warded against it. Once I'm in my secure facility, I'll try and see how far I can get in. Can you get into the place yourself?"

"Well, they gave me access codes, if they are still valid I can."

"Okay, all of you haul ass over there. By the time you arrive I should have some more intel." Derrick looked over at Willow and Tara. "You two don't seem like the "let's raid an armed encampment" types. Want to come with me?"

"W-where?" asked Tara.

"The Digital Web. It's a part of the spirit world. It will be disorienting at first, but it'll be fun!"

Willow demurred, "Um, I think we should stay with Buffy."

"No Willow, you should go. Leave the commando type stuff to Giles, Xander and me."

"Um, okay. How do we…"

"Just stand next to me like before." They all got up and the girls came over to stand next to Derrick. He had his palmtop out and began keying in more instructions. Borrowing lines again he said "Energize!" and they all disappeared in a swirl of colors.

Xander stared at where the three were just standing "I so want to try that."

"Better you then me" replied John. "We'll let's move out."

Derrick and the girls re-appeared in the Digital Web outside the Bat Cave.

"Where is this place?" asked Willow.

As he once again checked his tell tales to make sure no one was snooping around, Derrick explained. "We are in the Digital Web. A kind of pocket dimension that exists in the Umbra."

They were standing in front a sphere, about 20 feet in diameter. It had numerous cables coming into it, connecting like some type of cyber umbilical cord. Of course standing was a relative term. They were on something firm, but there was nothing under their feet. Both girls felt a little nauseous.

"This is a construct I created, my Sanctum Sanctorum. It gives me a secure place to study and to work." Satisfied that no one had been snooping, Derrick placed his hand on a plate next to the door, spoke his name and opened the door. Holding it open, he bowed to the girls and said "Entrée vou."

The first thing they noticed was the inside was far more vast then the outside. It was also a rather dreary place, made to look like a cave. Along one wall was an array of computer monitors. Sitting himself down in front of the console, Derrick began waving his hands around, kicking off even more security programs. They checked the local area for anything unusual, and also begin randomizing the data paths he'd use to conduct his assault against the Initiative from here.

The girls came to stand beside him. "These systems are way advanced" exclaimed Willow.

Tara felt a little lost. Computers were Willows deal, not hers.

Derrick looked over at them. "Uh, sorry." Waving his hands around two more chairs appeared. "You two are actually the first visitors I've had in the place." Reaching to the cooler that was attached to his chair, he fished out two bottles. "Mountain Dew?"

"No thanks" they both said. Derrick just shrugged and opened one for himself.

Willow asked "There are no keyboards, how are you entering information?"

"Your standard keyboard is limited. There's a sensor field linked to the chair that forms a sort of a cylinder around me. The field can detect the positions of my hands and fingers. I use gestures for command macros and keystrokes, something like sign language. With this, I can express thousands of commands, and much faster. There's also voice recognition for straight typing." Handing Willow a pair of headphones he said "Here, put these on."

Willow took them. Examining them quickly, she saw that they looked like any normal set of wireless stereo headphones. She put them on. Derrick waved his hands again, and suddenly Willow felt this extreme rush of information hit her, images, sounds, diagrams. It was like watching a movie, compressed into 3 seconds.

"Wow, what was that?"

"That was VA 101. The headphones created a neural/aural interface with your brain and I downloaded all of the basic techniques used by the Virtual Adepts, including some basic rotes. The drawback to doing it this is that its "cheap info". It will fade quickly unless it's reinforced by you actually making use of it. You should be able to use this deck now."

Willow extended both her hands into the field, and suddenly before her images appeared, icons of all sorts. They surrounded her. She could still see Derrick and Tara, and the screens in front of her. Cautiously, she reached out and touched an icon. It expanded before her, showing its contents. Almost instinctively she began to manipulate data and programs that were resident on the Bat Cave's systems, faster then she could believe.

Willow was in heaven."This is amazing…"

"Yes it is. I'll remind you though that these are my toys. We'll get you your own later."

Now Tara was beginning to feel left out. "Maybe I should have stayed behind," she thought to herself. Derrick seemed to sense her dismay.

"Don't worry Tara, you have a part in this too," he reassured her.

"I d-do?"

"Yup, you are still Willow's focus until she picks up a few more. If we run into any real problems, you'll need to be her touchstone. Plus this can be dangerous. I've come close to dying on some of the runs I've made. Intrusion Countermeasures, called Black IC, can send bio feedback loops that can fry you. Normally I do this alone, but I think we'll take advantage of you being here."

Derrick entered a few more commands, and a screen appeared in front of Tara. It looked a lot like the monitors you'd see hooked up to a hospital patient. There were two sets, one marked Derrick, another marked Willow.

"These are our life signs. If you see some of them behaving abnormally, that might mean we are being attacked. You can try lending us your strength to help us fight. You don't have to know the computer end, we'll deal with that. I know this is not really your gig. When we have time, I'll introduce you to someone who can help you on your path."

Tara felt a little better, knowing she'd be of some use.

Derrick began a scan of the Initiative compound, a passive, non-intrusive scan. He immediately detected the Intrusion Countermeasures and wards they had wrapped around the place which would have prevented him from simply porting in. He could bust through, but not without alerting them he'd done so.

Willow was searching for the bases exterior connections. Few such places were totally isolated. Power lines, data lines, phone lines, all needed to connect the place to the outside world. Bingo. She found they were running off of city power. That could be cut easily, but they probably had backup. They also had a pair of T-carriers, both voice and data.

Willow informed him. "I found their power connections and T-carriers supplying them."

"Okay standby." Streaming through the data T, he ran smack into a firewall.

But, it was one he'd cracked while he was still in diapers. "Don't these people know about updates?" he said. He got around that easily enough with a few choice rotes he'd come up with for the purpose. Next was to find his way to the security systems. He inserted a sniffer into their network and started capturing packets. He'd be able to identify every node on their network and what services they were running.

That would take a few minutes, so he checked in with the teams. "Buffy, Hope? Willow and I are both in their systems."

"Already?" asked Buffy.

"Hey, the VA's taught these people everything they know about computer networks, but not everything WE know. We've been low-key so far, just doing a discover to find what's there. I've not found Oz yet though. I'll be able to tap there security cams in a minute."

"Okay we've just arrived at Lowell house. There's an elevator inside that goes to the complex. If my ID's are still intact, it should just let me in."

Derrick piped back in. "Wait one…. Your ID is still there, but has been disabled…. and now its not. You should be able to walk right in. I just found Oz on their security cams. He's located in a lab facility, and he's with some scientist types. I'm not sure about your Agent Finn."

Derrick had more wonderful news. "Who ever designed the place included some extras in the construction. Certain parts of the facility are warded against being able to teleport in and out of. Namely what appears to be the demon containment cells and the lab facility where Oz is. I think this was more to keep the demons in then us out, but it works both ways."

"Buffy," interjected Willow "I think I found out why things have been light for you lately. The place where they keep all the demons? It's packed to the rafters. If there was such a thing as a Demon Rights organization they'd be suing the pants off of the Initiative. I'd say there are at least 100 or more down there."

Giles appeared almost apoplectic "Over one h-hundred demons in one place. My God, what were they thinking?"

"There are a few places that I should be able to open a gate to without setting off the wards. My recommendation is that Buffy goes in alone through the front door. It will look too suspicious if you all show up. Xander, Giles and the Pack get armed up and stand-by. Once you're in Buffy, try to locate Finn. Don't even let on about Oz. Once you've got Finn, try to get to Oz. We'll go from there. If it all goes to hell, I'll open a gate and send in the Marines."

Buffy looked around at the assembled warriors. "Is that acceptable with everyone?" No one disagreed.

Hope said "Okay Scoobies, come over to the van."

Hope opened the back of the van. Sitting there were four duffle bags. Hope started unloading them onto the ground.

Xander opened one up. "Holy shit!" He pulled out an H&K Assault rifle.

"Xander, do be careful with that," Muttered Giles.

"Relax G-Man." Xander proceeded to manipulate the weapon like an expert, inspecting it to make sure it was in proper working order. He loaded a magazine and chambered a round.

The rest of the bags included other commando-type gear. Weapons harnesses, rappelling gear, grenades of various types. And more guns. Conn pulled out a small hard case which contained his Dessert Eagle 50 Caliber.

Xander was in his element "Man, I could take on a small army with this stuff."

"That's exactly what we are doing" noted Buffy. They all began to suit up. Buffy kept it simple. She remained in her street clothes but tucked a small handgun into her waistband. Xander and Giles fitted themselves out to give a SWAT team a run for their money.

"Everybody set?" ask Buffy.

"As we'll ever be" replied Giles.

"Let's go."

------------------------------------------------------

TBC