jedibuttercup

PG-13; B:tVS, DOOM. 400 words. (Next in the Handle ID Slayer ficlet series).

From the looks of the wound on Goat's neck, Buffy suspected they were about to have another test case.

Title: Creating Monsters
Author: Jedi Buttercup
Disclaimer: The words are mine; the worlds are not. I claim nothing but the plot.
Rating: PG-13
TtH Prompt: #24 - Anger
Summary: From the looks of the wound on Goat's neck, Buffy suspected they were about to have another test case. 400 words.
Spoilers: B:tVS post-"Chosen"; "DOOM" (2005)
Notes: Movieverse. Fifth in the Handle ID Slayer flashfic sequence.

Buffy held back from the crowd around the med table, watching as John worked furiously to save his wounded teammate. He wasn't the Reaper at all in this context; his strong hands were busy trying to preserve life instead of taking it.

Between Carmack's death and the team's arrival with Goat, Sam had been researching Carmack's changes; she still wasn't sure exactly how the transformative contagion worked, but a glance at Carmack's cellular structure had shown them what it was, much to Sam's dismay. If C24 had made the Martians super strong, super fit, and swiftly healing without noticeable deformities, how could the same genetic additive also create ravening monsters? They hadn't had time to find an answer, but from the looks of the wound on Goat's neck, Buffy suspected they were about to have another test case.

"You don't shield a baby from time," John had said earlier, looking warily at the skeletons recovered from the dig. Buffy had agreed with him-- and still did, more now than ever. The ancient Martians had made a mistake-- one that Carmack must have reawakened somehow.

Buffy flinched as he heart monitor set up next to Goat reported a flatline; John kept moving, charging and applying the de-fib paddles, but the team seemed to know what was coming. It was written on their faces-- even Sarge, who was pacing the lab like a caged lion.

She watched him as Goat briefly acquired a pulse and then flatlined again; he tracked around the room, then stopped suddenly, staring intently at something on the floor. "Where the hell's Carmack?"

Buffy followed his gaze to Carmack's discarded labcoat-- she'd forgotten to grab it when she carried him to the morgue section. "He's dead," she answered baldly.

"What! How?" he demanded, angrily.

"He was turning into one of them," she replied, gesturing toward the wrapped, man-shaped object the Marines had dropped at the door.

"You mean those things out there--"

"Used to be people," she said firmly.

Behind them, John applied the de-fib paddles again. "C'mon, you sonofabitch," he growled.

The rest of the team held their breaths for a reaction-- and Buffy held hers, watching the Sarge. She still wasn't sure just when this bizarre op was destined to turn into the complete bloodbath from the visions, but she was willing to bet his next order would have a lot to do with it.

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